Chapter 22 – I Love Her More

8 April, 2010

Mia's Townhouse

New York City, New York

Draco Malfoy

Mia turns her head to me with confusion and then shock, "Wait… WHAT?!"

I smirk. "Come on. We have more vials you should view first. Let's do that first." Ophelia Dagworth-Granger always had a plan.

She sighs, "You're right." She walks to the tea table and grabs a vial and I look at the date in confusion.

She places it in the pensive and we enter.

3 August 1997

Ophelia's Memory

We enter the memory and Ophelia is pacing in her drawing room. There has a scattering of newspapers, both wizarding and muggle on the sofa. She has on trousers and a jumper and is wringing her hands together.

There is a faint pop outside, and in a flash Remus Lupin had entered the drawing room. Ophelia goes to him, "Well?"

He shakes his head, "Can I have a seat? I'm still quite perturbed."

Ophelia nods, "Would you like some tea or firewhiskey?

He sighs and says, "Some tea would be nice, thank you."

Ophelia calls for some tea, and it arrives shortly. She makes both their tea. She watches Lupin for a few minutes. She finally, gets visibly frustrated, "I am guessing it didn't go well."

Lupin sighs and shakes his head. "I arrived at Grimmauld Place as discussed. It's surrounded by Death Eaters, but we placed it under the Fidelius Charm, so they can't see it. I was able to apparate to the top step undetected. I couldn't get Hermione alone. Ron Weasley didn't leave her side and she wouldn't leave Harry. Dumbledore gave Harry a mission, but he wouldn't tell me what it was. I could tell Hermione wanted to tell me. I tried every angle to get Harry to let me go with them, but the baby was mentioned and I had to pretend I was leaving to protect Dora. I even tried to guilt trip him by saying James would want me to go. That's when he got angry and said what his father would want is for me to protect my wife and son…then called me a coward. Hermione tried to reason with him, but she couldn't say anything without revealing her secrets. Fuck!"

Ophelia stands up and takes her teacup, and throws it across the room. "ALBUS IS LUCKY HE IS FUCKING DEAD RIGHT NOW! MY GRANDDAUGHTER IS IN DANGER AND I CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO SAVE HER!" Then she crumbles to the floor and cries. "Richard and Helen were found dead in the airport parking lot last week and my granddaughter who should be safe is on a mission from that Bastard! I'll have Hester track her, it's all I can do. I can't tell her who she is. My magic won't allow me."

She gets up and straightens her clothes, and says, I'Il do it then, take me to her so I can tell her who she is. I'll brew up a potion so I can die."

Remus stands up and puts his arms around her. "Ophelia, we have trained Hermione to survive. She will get through this and she will get Harry and Ron through this too. She is brilliant and we have prepared her. You made sure all the documents of Richard and Helen's births are registered at the Ministry. Her correct birth certificate is filed with the Ministry. She cannot be tried as a muggle-born if they catch her. They are adults and Harry showed his Black temper today. Sirius would have been proud. As angry as he made me, I know they will get through this because they have Hermione. When this is all over, Hermione will need the only family she has left."

She nods, "She did steal half Dagworth Castle's library. She left a note saying she would return them soon. Merlin, I'm so scared for her. You're right we prepared her for anything. If those two dunderheads don't ruin everything. As you know, I offered the same opportunity to Molly Weasley for Ronald. She refused. She's still angry at me for telling her Arthur wasn't a good match for her. Arthur needed someone sweeter than Molly pretends to be. Molly was a spoiled child. Elizabeth Prewett ruined that girl. I made promises to Elizabeth before she died to take care of her. Do you know if Bill and his wife moved into Shell Cottage I gifted them for their wedding?"

Remus shook his head, "I hadn't heard anything. Why do you call Harry and Ron dunderheads?"

She smirks, "Severus Snape. He works for DG Potions when he's free from Hogwarts. He says they are absolutely useless. Though I suspect he's rather hard on Harry because James was such an arsehole to Severus."

He sneers, "Snivellus killed Dumbledore."

She looks at him sternly, "Remus John Lupin, I have told you for years to stop calling him that! His mother was a Prince. The Prince family were once a powerful wizarding family. Your maternal grandmother was a squib descended from the Princes. You and Severus Snape are distant cousins. Severus Snape did not kill Dumbledore. I did!"

He looks shocked, "What are you talking about?"

She looks aloof, and says, "Well I didn't toss him off the Astronomy Tower, but Albus Dumbledore was hit with a nasty curse invented by my older brothers Orlando and Oberon Avery. The Avery family magic was once quite grey and we excel at inventing protective and offensive curses particularly on objects. As you know, both of my dear brothers died in the Ministry bombing during World War 2. Orlando's son taught his grandson, Claudius the spell. Claudius went to school with Tom Riddle and taught him the spell. Claudius was part of Tom's inner circle when he started gathering followers, well until Tom killed Claudius. I digress, Severus came to me last year to see if I knew the countercurse of the spell Albus was suffering from, and I told him I did not. I did, and I lied. Albus endangered Hermione during the Tri-Wizarding Tournament when he placed her in The Great Lake with merpeople. Merpeople are extremely territorial. I warned Albus what would happen if he put Hermione in harm's way again. Though he wasn't entirely responsible for the decision, I don't forgive that easily."

Lupin looks flabbergasted, "Dumbledore was going to die anyway?"

She smirks again, "Oh yes, Remus. Little Albie Dumbledore signed his death certificate long before he was thrown off that tower."

We leave the memory, while Hermione is removing it from the pensive I walk to the bar, and have another drink. I have always said Ophelia was Slytherin to the core. I'm not sure how Mia is going to react. She is just as fierce when it comes to people she loves. She cursed Marietta Edgecomb when she betrayed the D.A. to Umbridge, and Mia was fiercely unapologetic for it. She told me she placed Rita Skeeter in a jar in her animagus form. Mia sent non-verbal jinxes to anyone who called the Eighth Year Slytherins Death Eaters. She could be just as ruthless.

Mia comes to the bar and takes a seat. She puts her elbows on the bar, and puts her head in her palms. She takes in a deep breath and slowly exhales. "I keep thinking about this. Ophelia said she was a natural legilimens. I wonder when she found she had that power. Rita Skeeter's book said Albus Dumbledore was only 5 when Ariana was born. Ariana was attacked when she was six years old by muggles while performing magic in their garden. That means if Dumbledore was responsible for her attack, he was only eleven. Skeeter's book said after the attack Ariana would have bursts of magic, so if Dumbledore tried to suppress her magic at the age of eleven, he didn't do a very good job. So much makes sense now. Ophelia was showing some rather harsh bullying behavior in the memory, when she talked to him in 1993. However, if she could read his mind and thoughts, she may very well have had good reason. She said she wouldn't reveal the best of him to his brother. Dumbledore used that same line on Severus Snape in a memory Snape gave Harry. Was Ophelia the reason Dumbledore hated Slytherins? Sirius and Remus both told me stories of the things they did to the Slytherins during school. Draco, they were cruel to Slytherins. They were not fun-loving pranks. They sent kids to the infirmary. The only time they were punished was when someone other than Dumbledore caught them in the act. They were all given light punishments. Sirius said Dumbledore encouraged them. If Ophelia knew about Dumbledore's secret did she taunt him? Dumbledore hated women. In Order meetings, Dumbledore would dismiss anything suggested by a woman. He never answered direct questions. When a woman had a good suggestion he would say we will take it under consideration, but he never did. Did this animosity that lasted 100 years shape Dumbledore or did Ophelia see him for who he was from the start and antagonize it?"

I shake my head. "I don't know Hermione, but she left you journals. She said her journals are in a vault and you should start there for answers."

She checks the time on the wall. "Do you mind looking at a few more with me, Draco?

I still love my name from her mouth. "Mia, I am here only for you."

She looks up at me and meets my eyes for a brief moment, and I see so many questions. Then she turns and goes to the tea table, and grabs a vial and walks to the pensive. After a moment and one more drink, I follow her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

13 April 1998

Ophelia's Memory

It's either rather late at night or very early in the morning where we land. We arrive outside of a small cottage. We are near the beach. The water is crashing in the near distance. Ophelia is with Remus and they walk to the door and knock.

A red head with scars on his right cheek opens the door. "Hullo Remus, Ophelia, it's a pleasure to see you."

Ophelia gives him a hug and says, "Hello Billy. It looks like you have settled in well. Are you happy here?"

The red head who is obviously a Weasley smiles, "We love it, thank you so much for the gift. We appreciate it. Please come in. I gave them all a sleeping draught as asked." He leads them to the kitchen table. Remus sets down a box filled with food.

I realize this is Bill Weasley. He plays Quidditch for the league. He's on the Horntail team. I also know the cottage well from my summer with Phea.

Ophelia smiles, "I'm glad you love this place. Hector and I escaped here quite often. I knew you and your bride would love it just as much as we did. Now this box has more in it than it appears. I put a small extension charm on it. There's plenty of food for all of you. There are nutrient potions for Hermione, the boys, and I understand Garrick is here as well. This box is full of nutrient potions. Garrick is young. He's only 90 years old. If he needs other potions, let me know. You said she was cursed with Bellatrix's dagger?"

Bill nods, "Yes. Ron and Harry said it was Bellatrix who attacked her."

Ophelia nods, "Take me to her, please."

Bill leads her up the stairs to the room Hermione is in. Bill says, "I didn't give her sleeping draught. She is too weak."

Ophelia nods, "Leave me with her. I'll heal her."

Ophelia enters the room and lying on the bed is Hermione. She is thin, the thinnest she's ever been. Her lips are blue, her nail beds are blue, and around her eyes there is a purple tint that looks like someone hit her. She's unresponsive and her breathing is labored. Ophelia falls on her knees and starts sobbing. It takes a few minutes for her to recover.

She goes to Hermione and sits on the side of the bed. She caresses Hermione cheek, "Mia Love, I'm going to fix you. I'm so sorry. I love you so much."

Ophelia takes Hermione's arm and unwraps it. It's still bleeding like the day she received it. There is bruising and visible veins around the cuts and the wounds are black. Ophelia takes her wand and severes the palm of her hand and covers Hermione's wound with her blood and she repeats "Pura Sanguinis Sana Vulnera Mea" over and over. The wound closes and the bruising disappears. Ophelia takes a towel and dips it in the basin near the bed and the wound has closed. She then goes to the wound on Hermione's neck. She removes the bandage and repeats the same actions. Ophelia heals her hand. She then cleans Hermione. The scars are there, but the wounds are healed. She wraps them up with clean bandages.

Ophelia then pulls out ten potion bottles and gives them to Hermione slowly so she will swallow them. One by one Hermione slowly drinks and her colouring starts to return to normal, and the pink returns to her cheeks and her lips. When Ophelia is done she kisses Hermione's forehead and whispers, "I love you.". She leaves the room and heads downstairs.

When Ophelia arrives downstairs Bill asks, "How is she?"

Ophelia smiles, "She's going to be just fine. The wounds are healed, tell her to keep her bandages on for three days."

Bill asks, "How did you know what to do?"

Ophelia frowns, "The dagger is my creation. As you know the Blacks were known for Hemomancy, blood magic. I found the dagger in Avery Manor attics and created the magic for the dagger. I gifted it to Violetta Bulstrode for her wedding to Cygnus Black II in 1898. She gave the dagger to Irma Crabb in 1922 when Irma married her son Pollux Black. Irma gave the knife to Druella Rosier when she married her son Cygnus Black III in 1954. Druella having all girls, gifted the dagger to her eldest daughter when she married Rodolphus Lestrange in 1976."

She walks to the box and moves things around, and pulls out a small chest. "Inside this chest are seven rows of ten potions. They are labeled. She will want to know what she is taking. She needs to take all 10 potions once a day. Give her the first dosing today at 3pm. She will be alright to take the first set today. There's three gallons of Orange Juice, it's for Hermione only. The juice is infused with nerve potion since she was crucio'd. She needs to drink it all in the next week. There are three more gallons for the rest of you. There is red meat, chicken, fish, and pork. I have a lot of vegetables and fresh fruit. There are grains, cooking essentials, and canned foods as well. Force her to eat. She needs the strength as her body heals. Try to keep her in bed for three days after that have her run 20 laps around the property. I will send more food in seven days."

Bill tears up, "Thank you so much, Ophelia. I was so scared we would lose her. She's like a little sister to me."

She looks at Bill and pats his cheek, "No, thank you Billy." She leans down to where Bill is sitting at the table, and kisses his cheek, and continues, "If you ever need anything, you just need to ask. Get some sleep. Goodnight."

We exit the memory and Mia wraps her arms around my waist and cries into my chest. I know the emotions that she's feeling right now. It was heartbreaking to see her so close to death. I wrap my arms around her to comfort her. I rock her slightly and place my chin on top of her head.

After a few minutes, I say, "Shhhh…it's ok. I have you. No one will ever hurt you like that again." She completely loses it and squeezes me tighter.

After a few minutes she calms down and releases me and goes to the bar. She takes a shot of firewhiskey. I walk over to her and she frowns, "I never realized how bad I really was. I knew it was bad, but seeing myself that close to death, just makes you face your mortality. The guilt Ophelia had in her eyes was enormous. It broke my heart. She could have never known that a gift would someday almost kill her grandchild."

I fill my tumbler and slowly drink some Firewhiskey too. Ophelia just wants her to understand the depths she went to for Hermione and why. I walk over to her, and say, "I think she showed you that memory so you could see she isn't infallible."

Hermione nods, "Let's do more, how much worse can they be after seeing that?"

I don't answer, but I follow her and she grabs the next one.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2 May 1999

Ophelia's Memory

We enter the memory and Ophelia is standing in front of a modest cottage. Ophelia is disguised as Viola, but the worry and the fear in her eyes is Ophelia.

The door opens and my Aunt Andromeda is standing in the door. "She's inside, go convince her not to use her time-turner to change the war."

Viola runs inside and when she sees Hermione, she runs to her and hugs her so tight, it knocks the wind out of Hermione. Viola pulls back, and says, "Oh my sweet girl! I'm so glad to see you!" She squeezes Hermione again.

Hermione pulls back, "Vi, I have to go back to save them. I have to try. Mrs. Weasley said I needed to save them all."

Viola grabs Hermione's hands. "No Hermione. If you change their fates, who are you going to sacrifice instead? You? Harry? Ron? You can't go back. I can't stand the thought of you dying. I will body bind you until it's impossible for you to do anything if I have to. Do I need to do that?"

Hermione bursts into tears, "Remus and Tonks are gone. Tonks saved me from Bellatrix how can I live knowing I could fix it."

Viola hugs Hermione, "What did Andi say when you told you were going to do this? Huh?"

Hermione frowns, "She said soldiers die when they choose to fight and I need to accept it, or something like that because I wasn't really listening."

Viola laughs, "Are you listening now, Hermione?" Hermione shrugs. "Hermione Jean Granger, look at me." Hermione looks into her eyes. "You will change the fate of the war if you go back in time. Is that what you want to do, do you want Tom Riddle to win this war?"

Hermione frowns. "No, but I want to save more people. I could save Remus, Tonks, Fred, Severus Snape, and maybe Colin Creevey."

Viola, looks at her, and says, "Are you telling me you didn't save anyone? Did Hermione Granger sit on the sidelines and watch others fight?"

Hermione frowned, "I saved three people that I know of. No, I didn't sit on the side lines. I killed….I killed so many." She starts to sob again.

Viola hugs her again, "Of course you did. It was kill or be killed. That is what war is. A nice garden party is not the answer when Death Eaters are running around killing children. You saved people when you could. You have your answer. You can't change anything. I will not allow you to sacrifice yourself for a 'what if' situation. You have been through enough. You saved the wizarding world. You, Hermione Granger are a hero, and have nothing left to prove. I will make Molly Weasley pay for making you feel guilty for her son dying."

Viola holds Hermione for several minutes. Hermione continues to cry in Viola's arms. "I should have done more. I should have…"

Viola interrupts, "Hermione, is Voldemort dead?" Hermione nods. "Are you, Harry, and Ron alive?" Hermione nods. "Did you fight with everything you have?" Hermione nods. "Then you have nothing to fix." Hermione hugs Viola and sobs on her shoulder.

Once Hermione calms down, Viola says, "Why don't you go upstairs and take a bath. I will call Hester for some clothes you still had at the castle and a big Shepard's Pie."

Hermione nods, "Alright."

Hermione goes upstairs. Viola calls for Hester for clothes and food. She walks into the kitchen where Andi is sitting at the table crying. Viola walks over to Andromeda, and gives her a hug. "Oh Andi, I'm sorry about Nymphadora. I love Dora, too."

Andi sets the Resurrection Stone on the table. "Do you know how hard it was to tell Hermione she couldn't go back when my heart was screaming at me to save my daughter? Then that brilliant beautiful girl hands me this stone. Do you know what that is?"

Viola looks at it and shakes her head. "I actually can't say that I do."

Andi says, "It's the Resurrection Stone. The Deathly Hallows are real. All this time everyone thought the story was just a story, but they are real. I was able to say a proper goodbye to my beautiful baby girl, and the love of my life because your genius girl handed me that stone. You're granddaughter has all three hollows right now in her possession. She's the current master of death."

Viola gasps, "Merlin!"

Andi smirks at Viola, "The brilliant girl had a plan for when she went back to the battle. I think she would have succeeded, but I couldn't let her risk it. I couldn't let her destroy her soul to save others. Dora told me she is happy with her decision, and would save Hermione a hundred times over." She wipes her eyes and walks to the kitchen sink. "I will be forever grateful to Hermione for allowing me to say goodbye. Can you tell her yet?"

Viola shakes her head, "No my magic still won't allow it."

Andi says, "What did you swear to exactly?"

Viola said, "I swore I wouldn't tell her until the threat of Death Eaters have been eradicated, and swore to destroy all that hurt her."

Andi nods, "It sounds like you have some work to do, my friend."

Viola nods. "I'm afraid, I do."

Then she places her hand over the Resurrection Stone and the memory fades.

"Ophelia took the stone! I never asked about it. Oh my God! After my bath I went downstairs, we ate Shepard's pie and a Banofee Pie for dessert. Viola sat me down and told me about my parents. I was an emotional wreck for days." Hermione starts gathering the memory.

I'm so confused right now. "Mia, what were they talking about? What's the Resurrection Stone?"

Mia looks up at me and shrugs. She seems to have an internal debate with herself and then says, "Do you recall The Tale of Three Brothers from The Beedle and the Bard?" I nod, and she continues, "Well the unbeatable dueling wand, the stone to resurrect the dead, and the cloak of invisibility are all real. Harry who is descended from the Peverells has the Invisibility Cloak. The Resurrection Stone belonged to the Gaunts. The Gaunts made it into a ring, and it was turned into a Horcrux, it's what cursed Dumbledore. As for the wand, we aren't sure of the whole story, but Gellert Grindlewald lost the Elder Wand in a duel with Albus Dumbledore in his final battle in 1945. The wand was buried with Dumbledore, but Voldemort took it from his grave. It's the same wand you extracted from Dumbledore on the Astronomy Tower in Sixth Year. You would have been the Master of the wand, but then while we were at Malfoy Manor Harry took your wand. Making him the master. He was able to defeat Voldemort in the end because Harry was the true master of the Elder Wand. In Eighth Year, I cast Expelliarmus on Harry when he attacked you the night Pansy dared me to sit in your lap, making me Master of the wand. Harry thought I placed the Elder Wand back in Dumbledore's grave, but I just threw it in the bottom of my bag. I didn't empty my bag until I moved to America, and I found I still had the wand." She shrugs her shoulders, "I was so emotional at that time, it never crossed my mind. Sasha and now you are the only two people who know the story of how I am Master of the Elder Wand."

I smile at her, "Thank you for trusting me with your secret, Mia. I won't betray your trust."

She smiles at me, "Oh well, you know most of biggest secrets anyway."

Fuck, she's beautiful. I haven't felt so content in a decade. These few hours have changed everything, now I just need to convince her we deserve another chance. "Shall we continue?"

She smiles, "Yes, I'm understanding all she did for me. She even tried to tell me, I was too stubborn to listen. Sasha tried to tell me for years there had to be more to the story, but I refused to hear any of it."

I nod, "I don't think your friend likes me much."

She giggles, "She'll come around. All my friends are equivalent to Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. Sasha is just protective of her friends. She threatened Colton when he finally proposed to Kelly. Let's get this over with."

She goes to the table and picks up a vial, "This is right after Harry came to visit me the first time."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

19 August, 2004

Ophelia's Memory

We enter the memory and we are in Dagworth-Granger Manor. Ophelia is sitting down for tea with Potter.

Potter places his tea cup down, "Madame Dagworth-Granger I don't know how you were able to find Hermione, but I will never forget your kindness. Thank you. I have missed her so much. Thank you for gifting me the Potter family tapestry, I don't know how you acquired it, but it's priceless. If you ever need anything, I am in your debt."

Ophelia grins, "It was my pleasure, I hope you stay in touch with your friend. It sounds like she missed you as well. Be kind to your wife, she's a gentle soul, she's so much like her mother. Take care, Mr. Potter."

Potter gets up and shakes her hand and uses the floo to leave. As soon as he is gone Ophelia cries. She stops after about a minute, and gets up. We follow her upstairs to her bedroom. She opens her bed side table and pulls out a ring box. She opens it and takes out the Resurrection Stone.

Beside me, Mia gasps, and grabs my hand. We watch as Ophelia turns the stone three times in her palm and a young Richard appears. He looks to be in his twenties.

"Hullo Mum." He looks down at his body and then back at her, "What barmy shite did you do, Mother? I'm fucking see through!"

She sighs, "Hello, my son. You are still dead, I need to consult you on an important matter."

Richard sighs, "I've missed you, Mum. You know, being dead isn't so bad. I now know more than you."

She laughs, "Oh my sweet baby boy, I miss you too, every day. I need to know what to do about Hermione. I eradicated the threat of Death Eaters. I've destroyed all that have hurt her. I can tell her who she is. However…"

Richard raises one eyebrow as she is talking, and interrupts, "You eradicated the problem, or you connived and manipulated others into doing all the work for you?"

She purses her lips, "Semantics, Richard. The Death Eaters are gone, the education system has been fixed, the laws against muggle-borns have been removed, the Wizengamot is electoral now. It's taboo to say certain derogatory words against muggle-borns. People are being educated against prejudices. I did it Richard."

He smiles, "I know, Mum. I never doubted you. So what is your dilemma?"

She sighs, "Harry Potter was here, and he just visited her. She's still hurting so much. Richard she is happy where she is. She has great friends who love and support her. She's doing amazing things and learning so much. I'm so proud of her."

She sighs and continues, "Do I disrupt her life and tell her who she is, or do I leave her to live her life thinking it's a lie? I told you when I was able to tell her who she was that I would talk to her about returning your memories and we would make the decision together. I need you to tell me what to do. I need you to help me make this decision."

Richard smirks, "Is that all? Mum, I can't tell you what to do. What I can tell you is if she ever realizes who you were to her all those years she will see that you loved her. You spoiled the hell out of her as Mina. You doted on her as Viola. Mum let Mia live her life on her terms for once. I love you and I love all you have done for her. The person you have helped her become is amazing, but you made mistakes. She doesn't trust easily. You said she was happy? Then let her be happy. She's had your love her whole life, she doesn't need to know how, yet. I love you, Mum, but I love her more."

She nods, "Thank you, my son. I know what I must do now. There isn't a day I don't miss you. I love you, but I love her more. Goodbye, Richard, give Helen and your dad my love."

Richard smiles, "Goodbye, Mum."

As soon as we leave the memory, Mia turns to me. "What does she mean she eradicated the Death Eaters? They were given only 2 year sentences in Azkaban."

I run my fingers through my hair. "It's why I came all the way here. We need her journals. Mia, all of the Death Eaters were killed in October of 1999. A man by the name of Thaddeus Hitchins poisoned the entire prison. Guards worked in two week shifts. When the new guards arrived for their shifts, everyone was dead, all he left was a note. He lived in Ireland and went to Erehnoll School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His potions grades were abysmal. The Aurors harassed purebloods for months to see if one of us helped him. No one knew what was used to kill the prisoners. I know the truth, when I found out the truth I went to Potter to tell him and I couldn't. Something tells me I can tell you. Can I just show you the memory?"

She nods, "Harry called me the day you came to his office. He said you couldn't tell him, but I know you can tell me. Fuck! Yes. I want to know."

I walk over to the pensive and extract the last memory inside and place it in a vial. I look over at her. "You understand she loved you, correct?"

Mia nods, "I'm starting to understand. Yes."

I take my wand and extract the memory and place it in the pensive.

31 March, 2010

Draco's Memory

We enter the memory. Mother and I are sitting in a tea shop at the end of Diagon Alley that used to be exclusive to purebloods, but such actions now are illegal.

"All I'm saying Draco, if you would have done your duty to this family, I wouldn't have asked you to meet me for this business. I could have asked your wife to attend me."

I smirk at her, "If I would have done my duty for this family, I would have avada'd myself years ago."

Narcissa fumes. "Your dark humor is unappreciated."

I listlessly say, "Your inability to stop talking about my duty is just as unappreciated, Mother. Do I need to reevaluate your allowance?"

She huffs and I say, "I warned you about what would happen to you if you forced the issue with Tori. Even after I ended the contract you wouldn't stop. It took me reducing your expenses to 2000 galleons a month for you to stop nagging me."

She narrows her eyes, "Let's go."

I put galleons on the table and we walk over to Gringott's. We walk in and are greeted by the first goblin and are led to a private office and the goblin states, "Ragnok will be with you shortly."

When Ragnok arrives, "He says Lord Malfoy, how may I be of service to you."

I smile, "We are actually here on behalf of my mother Narcissa Malfoy."

Narcissa purses her lips as if she doesn't want to talk to the goblin, she let's out a huff, and haughtily says, "Madame Ophelia Dagworth-Granger left me a vault. Vault number 1534, I am her to collect its contents."

Ragnok says, "Of course." He hands her a needle in a paper wrapping and says, "I will need three drops of your blood on this parchment to collect the contents. Standard procedure policy since your wizarding war in 1998."

Narcissa purses her lips and pokes her finger and gives three drops of blood on the parchment. Ragnok hands her a bandage and she takes it and puts it in her finger. Wand use also is now prohibited in Gringott's. We are then lead to the cart to head to the vault.

When we arrive at the vault Ragnok hands Mother the key. Ragnok stands at the end of the corridor and says, "I will wait out here. The vault is down there on the right."

We head down a small corridor and the third door on the right is vault number 1534. Mother takes the key and opens the vault. We enter the vault and it lights up. Then the door closes.

Inside are three pedestals with a single object on them. The first pedestal is the tea set. There is a note addressed to Mother on the second pedestal. On the third pedestal is a single antique scroll.

Mother hands me the letter, and says, "I do not take my spectacles in public, will you please read the note for me."

I take the note and open in and read aloud,

"Dear Narcissa,

The seventeenth century tea set was past through the Averys for generations. It is enchanted. Inside the tea cups you will see a flower opposite of the handle. The flowers in all but one tea cup are blue. If you drink from cup with the blue flower you will be true. Meaning you will tell the truth no matter how much you try to conceal the truth. The red flower is for the hostess. I used this tea set when meeting new people. It's easier sometimes than legilimens when multiple people are in the room."

"I leave you with the knowledge you will never be able to share. I have created a bit of magic that will prevent you and whomever joins you in this vault from speaking of the contents of this letter. Should you ever try to tell someone, your magic will prevent you from telling. If you continue, you will lose all verbal functions, and live your life having seizures. I have also charmed them to burn should you ever try to remove this letter or the scroll from the vault."

"There is a muggle fairy tale about a king and queen who have a baby and invite all the kingdom to her Royal Presentation except for an evil fairy. The evil fairy appears at the royal presentation despite her lack of invitation, and threatens the king by casting a curse on the princess. The curse on the princess stated she would prick her finger on an object and fall into a enchanted sleep for 100 years on her 16th birthday. She will only awaken by true loves first kiss. The prophecy is fulfilled and on her sixteenth birthday the princess pricks her finger and falls asleep, and they call her Sleeping Beauty. The other fairies cast a spell on the whole kingdom to sleep until the princess awakens. The prince finds the princess and kisses her. When she awakens, the whole town awakens with her. The prince and princess live happily ever after."

"This is not the true story of Sleeping Beauty. The king failed to invite an evil witch to the Royal Presentation and she tells the king, he and all his subjects will pay dearly for this slight. The witch waited until the princess' 16th birthday and poisoned all the water and wine in all the kingdom. The whole kingdom fell within hours. They all appeared to be sleeping, but in reality the potion puts its victims to sleep and quickly shuts down all of their organs. It's called the Sleeping Beauty Potion and was banned some time in the Thirteenth Century."

"I am what they use to call a natural Legilimens. I can enter just about anyone's minds with ease. In 1984, I had come over to Malfoy Manor for tea. I wanted to see little Draco. You and I sat for tea and Little Draco joined us. It was such a sweet time until Lucius joined us. He was talking to Draco and started playing with him. He made a mistake, he let his guard down. I saw him at the age of 16 with his father Abraxas, Thoros Nott, and Lord Voldemort when they went to visit my husband Hector in 1972. Lord Voldemort wanted my Hector to join his ranks as his potioneer, but my Hector refused. I saw how Abraxas and Lucius stood back as Lord Voldemort killed my Hector and had a laugh about it after his body was lying on the floor. The most loving man, dead on the floor, was a joke to them."

"I have watched for the last 100 years as wizards have destroyed our society. I have watched fear turn wizards cruel and evil. I sat through every Death Eater trial. I read the minds of the criminals on trial and I saw everything they were guilty of. I saw them rape, kill, and torture with pleasure. I saw the faces of their victims pleading for their lives. I heard their laughter and knew their thoughts as they performed one cruel act after another. I watched as the Wizengamot gave them no more than two years in prison."

"I watched the trials of Thorfinn Rowle and Corbin Yaxley. I witnessed my own son's death. I watched as they crucio'd him and his wife over and over again. I watched as they laughed as they tortured my son. I watched how they killed them and gave them no mercy."

"I saw into the mind of Rodolphus Lestrange. He stood across the room on the day my beautiful granddaughter was tortured by his wife at Malfoy Manor. He watched your bored expression while my innocent granddaughter was being tortured. I watched the look of disgust on your face when her blood stained your carpet."

"I bade my time should you let your guard down to determine how you really felt. I orchestrated a luncheon with you and Andromeda Tonks. While you and Andromeda were working through your issues, I had the pleasure of seeing inside your mind the day my granddaughter was tortured in your drawing room. You were irritated over the interruption of tea time and not the fact that there was a young girl suffering in your home."

"So because your complete thoughtlessness allowed a young girl get tortured and have to live with nightmares. I leave you with the cause of yours."

"I have spent the last years of my life fixing every error made by the men in our society. One of my favorite projects, included a man by the name of Thaddeus Hitchens. I'm sure you remember the Hitchens family correct? Phineas Nigellas Black's little sister, Isis, married a muggle by the name of Hitchens and moved to Ireland. Your dear sister Bellatrix made it a personal mission to murder his entire family of blood-traitors while Thaddeus was away at Erehnoll School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Once he grew up, he had a wife and two small children, your sister murdered them while he was at work. After the end of the trials I looked for this man and he was suicidal. I helped Mr. Thaddeus Hitchens have his revenge. He applied for a job at Azkaban and I helped him brew a nice big batch of Sleeping Beauty Potion to take into this job. He put the potion into their gruel, and killed every last Death Eater in Azkaban."

"Did you know gruel was once slang for 'to receive one's punishment?' From this most delightful substance comes the adjective 'grueling,' describing an experience that's exhausting or punishing. To 'get one's gruel' was 1700's slang for, 'to get ones punishment.' Rather fitting it is the only substance served in Azkaban, don't you agree?"

"My gift to you is knowing the truth of what killed your husband, and never being able to tell a soul. I helped your son break the contract with Astoria Greengrass by having your husband killed. I have discouraged every single girlfriend he has had since then. I hope one day he will find his soul mate again, and she will see he has only ever loved her. I hope you can live with the fact that you let that woman bleed on your floor."

"I hope your learn your lessons on the negative effects of your continued bigotry. I hope one day you will truly embrace your sister with the love she deserves instead of merely tolerating her. I hope you learn to really love, but first you must learn to stop your hate. You had such potential as a young girl, but you allowed hate and prejudice to rule you like a mantra. Now there isn't a soul on this earth that loves you because all you do is hate. You tried to instill that hate in your son, but he loves fiercely. He loved Hermione fiercely at one time. My wish for him is to tell you he loves you, but he loves her more."

Regards,

Ophelia Cornelia Avery Dagworth-Granger"

When we leave the memory Hermione runs to the bar and takes a drink directly from the firewhiskey bottle. When she opens her eyes she looks at me. I see a knowing in her eyes. I see a fear. I walk to her, and I ask, "How did you know I could tell you what happened, Mia?"

She looks away and takes another drink. "Ophelia told me the only time I met her as your godmother. She sent you away because as soon as I heard her name she knew I had questions. My lessons were at Dagworth Castle. She didn't let me ask her a lot of questions, but I asked her if she was part of The Order. She said no, she just allowed use of an uninhabited Castle for my education. Then….then I asked her one more question."

She sighs and takes another drink, "I asked her why I could tell you about the time-turner and about my time at the castle. She…she said it was because we were soul mates and a soul mate bond supersedes most silencing magic."

Fuck! That explains so much. Why I missed her and felt her loss everyday and how in the last few hours I've been more myself than I have been in so long. How touching her is as natural as fucking breathing. Fuck! "You knew this the whole time? Why didn't you tell me?"

She looks furious, "BECAUSE I KNEW YOU WOULD NEVER CHOOSE ME!"

Fuck! There it is. "Mia…."

She shakes her head, "Stop. We aren't talking about this right now. I have a lot of shit I need to process, and I am not going to be steamrolled by you right now. I just found out my grandmother was a fucking mass murderer. I found out my whole fucking life was a lie. I found out my very dead father is the reason she never told me I had a grandmother. I realize a lot of the things I thought were true never were, and most of that is just because I didn't listen to the truth. I am not going to argue with you over a past that was another lifetime ago. I live an ocean away. I will never live in England again. This is my home. This is my family. I realize I have had many unwarranted prejudices about England. I have too much to process. You want something Draco? Be my fucking friend, and don't push me on this. The last twelve hours have been overwhelming for me. Look, it's 7:05 in the morning, I have a meeting at one of our factories at nine. Do…do you want to go with me? You can see what I have accomplished. I want to show my friend what I have been able to do. Will you let me?"

She can't let go either. It's not lost, "I would love to. Can I show you one more thing?"

She looks apprehensive, but says yes and I hand her the note that was in the chest. And she reads it outloud,

"My Dearest Draco,

I have tried for many years to get our girl home. I knew what she meant to you, and I hate that you had to lose her. I understand what brought you here to search my desk. I would apologize, but I had my reasons. I hope you know I love you, but I love her more. I did everything within my power to bring her home. Draco take these memories and show her. Let her see how she was so unconditionally loved. She needs to know she was never a weapon. I wanted her to have a full education. All of the vials are labeled with dates. I chose the memories she needs to know.

Bring our girl home.

Love,

Ophelia"

She hands me the note back, and smiles. "Can we shelve the past for a few hours. I'll get us sleep replenishing potions."

She goes behind the bar into the kitchenette and grabs four potions, and hands me two. "Sober up, and the sleep potion. Can you met me back here at 8:15?"

I take the potions and say, "Yes I'll meet you at 8:15."

She smiles, "Thank you Draco, I'll show you out."

I stop at the door and I turn around, I hug her because fuck, I just need her in my arms. I let go and brush a loose curl behind her ear, and say, "See you soon." Then I use every bit of my willpower to turn away and walk out the door.