A/N Phew! This catches up the Fanfiction site to AO3. When AO3 went down I panicked! When I started posting on Fanfiction site I said it was difficult, it's actually not. I just had to learn what the hell I was doing. Chapter 40 will be posted in a couple of days. I have about 6000 words written, but I still need to proof it so it's actual English. Thank you for all the faves and follows. This was the first time I have ever written something, and I have throughly enjoyed it. Your comments give me inspiration. I can't express how thankful I have for those who have commented.
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Chapter 39 – Tour de Vaults
20 April, 2010
Ministry of Magic
Attrium
London, England, United Kingdom
Hermione Granger
"Granger! Thank you so much for meeting me here. I apologize for the change, but I needed to deliver a piece of artwork to my client. The new café in the Ministry is lovely. They have the most divine scones."
I give her a hug, "It's no problem Pans, I'm just glad we were able to meet. My morning has been rather hectic."
We walk to the café located on the 1st floor of the Ministry. It is a lovely modern café. Definitely not something I would expect in the Ministry of Magic. We sit down and place an order for a few scones and a tea service.
Pansy smiles, "I have to tell you, Granger. It's good to see you. I have missed you dearly. Adrian made me promise to keep it a secret, but I've known where you have been for about two years now. As you may remember he was a year ahead of us at Hogwarts. Once he graduated, his family relocated to New Zealand during that mess. He came back in 2000 and I swear I've never seen a more beautiful man. It was lust at first sight. Anyway, he now works here at the Ministry and I simply adore him. He's a wonderful father and best husband. I am so sorry if he offended you Sunday evening."
I giggle, "Pans, I forgave him instantly. Harry and I had an emotional day. I was able to tell him all my truths and my emotions were high. I generally have a tougher skin. His memory of Theo stripping in Slytherin common room made me forgive him of everything he might or might not have done. Please, no more apologizing. Tell me about your art gallery."
She smiles, "It started when my dad died. I was dating Adrian at the time. My father left me everything. He had a vault full of art. I decided to try my hand at selling it and made a nice profit. Many people have no idea the true value of art and they tend to overpay. It worked out well and artist began coming to the gallery to sell their art as well."
I lean in, "I have a nice bit of an art collection. I may have more. I know you know the reputation of the Dagworth's. The art is real, but a large amount of it may have duplicates in other parts of the world. I'm not sure what is sellable."
Pansy thinks for a moment. "The wizarding world is aware of the Dagworth's reputation. They are rather notorious, however knowing it's the real painting is just about all they will need to buy."
I nod, "If I were to maybe have a painting worth say, seven hundred million quid, in the muggle world, what could I get for a painting like that in the the wizarding world?
She gapes at me for a moment. She leans in and loudly whispers, "You are fucking joking, right? The Mona Lisa?"
I nod.
She leans back in her chair with a loud sigh. "Since it is a painting of a witch, I'd say, we could it sell for around one hundred and fifty million galleons. I know of some underground wizarding auctions in Europe that would feature your art collection. They take a 50% commission, however. I could feature it in my gallery, but I don't have the clientele for such a piece."
I smile, "What do you charge for commission?"
She straightens up and says, "I charge a 30% commission on all artwork, that isn't already mine."
I smile, "What if I knew a way to get your gallery worldwide attention?"
She looks at me curiously and says, "H-How could you possibly do that."
I pull out my phone and pull up the Enchantex browser, "Pans, let me introduce you to the worldwide web…."
After thirty minutes of explaining the internet and exactly how popular it is outside of Wizarding United Kingdom, she says, "So you can get my gallery on the line with the wizard inter-thingy, and all the wizards around the world will know about my gallery?"
I giggle, "Yes I can or at least we can contact my website design team and I can find someone who will do it for me. Pansy, it will be some time. My system will not be fully functioning for a few months in this country, but I think we could get your site on the internet and purchase you a phone that could be working prior to my network being functional. I can contact my lead and we can have someone design it for you. I won't charge you. It's a service we have for our wizarding community. I still need to do an inventory of my vaults. I was suppose to do that today, but I…was distracted."
She smiles, "Oh Hermione! How could I ever thank you enough?"
I laugh, "Pansy it's not a big deal. I could probably design it myself and have it running in a few hours. I can't, though. I am still running a large company and trying to do everything that needs to be done while I am here."
She frowns, "You're going back to America, then?"
I sigh, "Pansy it's my home. It's the home I have known for the last ten years. I promised myself I would never move back here. I left almost everything behind other than previous obligations. It took Herculean effort to get me to come back. I can't stay here, not after everything that has happened in my past. The first thing I did when I arrived was visit my parents' grave. They were killed by Death Eaters. I have all this power and couldn't save them. I couldn't protect them. I can't live in a place that holds as many ghosts as I have left here."
She tears up, "I-I'm so sorry, Hermione. I have missed you, but I understand. What about Draco?"
I huff, "Pans. Draco and I have a tentative friendship. That's all we can have. I can't live my life waiting for him to choose me. He will never choose me, Pans. He's proven that to me. He and I are ancient history. I've learned an important lesson today. You can speak of ancient history, but there isn't shit you can do to change it other than to move on. I moved on a long time ago."
She frowns and then looks down defeated. "I understand. I tried to help him. Did you know? I searched every law book I owned to try to break his contract. I don't know what he told you about when Lord Voldemort lived at the Manor. The things he had to witness were horrific. He tried the best he could to hide his emotions only to protect his mother. Narcissa Malfoy is a hard woman, but she loves Draco with all she is. Draco couldn't abandon her."
Always a fucking excuse. "Pansy, I understand he believed there were no choices. I wasn't destitute or poor. I didn't have billions of dollars, but I had more than most people have. He chose a life without me. Period. Now he can live the life he chose without me. I will continue to live the life I have been forced to build because I was rejected. Rejected by my country, rejected by my friends, and rejected by the one person I loved more than I had a right to. It's over. I can offer a friendship. I can be a business partner. I can't allow myself to ever love Draco Malfoy again. I will not survive again when he inevitably decides I'm not enough again."
Pansy frowns, "Hermione…."
I laugh, "Don't look at me like that. Pansy, I have a great fucking life. I have great friends and have made a family in America. It's my home. I have travelled all over the world. I have met amazing people from every walk of life. People who have taught me how beautiful humanity is. Every experience I have had has brought me joy. I hold a black belt in Krav Maga. I have five magical masteries, I hold a Muggle Master's degree in technology, and I have conquered the wizarding world with my company. I have plenty of things to keep me happy."
She sighs, "I know Hermione. You have always been rather impressive. I'm so proud of all you have achieved. Adrian has told me all about your company and achievements. I was hoping you and Draco would find yourselves back to each other. He's been a good friend to me for my whole life. I apologize. It wasn't my business."
I smile, "I know he's a good friend of yours. I understand. You don't need to apologize. I seem to be emotionally malfunctioning since I arrived back here. It's the very air that makes me defensive. I apologize. I keep getting asked about him. I banned all talk about him for so long, I still have a trigger wand so to speak when he is mentioned. It's not your fault."
We spend the next hour talking about our lives and catch up on silly stories of her children and my travels. When we stand up to leave with promises of getting together again soon I hear someone behind me.
"Miss Granger."
I spin around and Kingsley is here. "Hi Kings. Did you receive my owl earlier today?"
He smiles, "I did the 10am meeting works wonderfully for me. When I heard you were in the building I decided to come speak with you."
I squint my eyes together, "Why would it be reported I'm in the building? Am I being watched while I'm here?"
Kings laughs, "No need for constant vigilance my dear. You are quite the celebrity. I wanted to ask you a favor."
Why would the Minister of Magic need a favor from me? I smile, "What is it I can do for you Minister Shackelbolt? Surely this is something we can discuss during our meeting with my team on the morrow."
Kings frowns, "Minster Shackelbolt? How very formal of you Miss Granger. You are right, I look forward to our meeting tomorrow with your team. I would like this resolved before the First of September so we can begin teaching computers to our students at Hogwarts. Now Hermione about that favor, and don't try to deflect me again. The Twelfth Annual Anniversary Ball will be held Sunday, the Second of May. I would very much like to honor you and your accomplishments as well as have you give a presentation on your company, Enchantex. It would be a great way to advertise since the majority of the British wizarding population will either be attending or reading about it."
Fuck! I don't want all that. "Kings, I will be more than happy to attend and give a presentation of Enchantex. We have an amazing P.R. team and we can get a presentation set up. I would be happy to do so. I however don't wish to be honored in anyway. I learned some about the Hermione Granger Act. I appreciate the honor of my name carrying such a Law, however I had nothing to do with such a law. Any recognition, should go to the people who wrote it. I had nothing to do with it."
Kings smiled and then chuckled. "This has nothing to do with the law, Hermione. A British citizen, a war heroine, cured two people of a rather longlasting malady. You, my brilliant girl, are the reason I was able to carry a rather long conversation with my best mate for the first time in 29 years. I am Neville's godfather. Frank and I were dorm mates and inseparable since my first year at Hogwarts. We entered the Auror Academy together and I fought beside him many times. You saved him and Alice. I don't care how you did it, but you deserve recognition for doing it just the same."
Fucking Hell! How did I not think of the consequences. "Kings, it was nothing and maybe you and I should discuss this privately. I will tell you how I cured them, but I don't want that information public."
He laughs, "I already have seen the memory. Augusta came to see me yesterday, and showed me the memory. We are going with the elf wine story. I'm sure the vault you got this item from is a deep secret of the Dagworths. Make no mistake, there isn't an old wizarding family that isn't aware of who the Dagworths were. However, your actions regardless, earned you another Order of Merlin First Class for saving two people's lives."
I sigh, but Pansy inserts herself in the conversation, "Mia, a second Order of Merlin First Class is nothing to scoff about. You earned your first defeating a Dark Lord. This one sounds as if you used your intelligence to give two people their lives. Most people live their whole lives without reaching the accolades to earn one Order of Merlin, let alone two of them."
I look Kings in the eyes he's smiling at me. He looks hopeful. I shake my head, "It will actually be my third Order of Merlin First Class. I received one from the I.C.W. three years ago for my company. Kings I never wanted the recognition. I just did it because I saw the chalice and tried something because I read about it when I was eight years old. Neville was always a friend to me. He deserves for his parents to know what a truly amazing person he is."
Kings laughs and hugs me, "My sweet Hermione, you deserve this credit. You deserve to be honored simply because you didn't do it for recognition. Truly great people do what is right without any thought of themselves or to be recognized for doing it. I know you always resented the fame, but my sweet, sweet Hermione, you deserve it. You deserve to be celebrated because you always do the right thing. You protected your friends when you could have hid at Dagworth Castle until the end of time. You found an old artifact and tried to cure a friend's parents without a second thought. You changed the whole world with your company because 16 year old Hermione Granger was pissed off for not being able to use a ball point pen in what was it, 'This bullshite backwoods, archaic fucking society.' Hermione Granger grew to be Mia Granger and she dominated the whole world with her brilliant ideas."
I smirk at him, "It was 'This bullshit Victorian backwoods, archaic fucking society.'"
He laughs, "Pardon me, Miss Granger. Ophelia should have limited your access to Sirius Black."
I laugh, "Fine, I'll take it. I want all the reward money to go to the orphanage you mentioned. I will donate an additional 700,000 galleons to double the money. You can announce it before my presentation. I don't want or need any pomp and circumstance. I need extra tickets for 8 people. If I'm giving a presentation, I'm not doing it without my team. Also one of them is a squib, will that be a problem?"
He smiles, "Of course not. I'll see you tomorrow morning. Adrian Pucey will join us as well. Good to see you as well, Mrs. Parkinson-Pucey."
I kiss his cheek, "Thanks, Kings."
He kisses my forehead and heads in the other direction. Kings, Sirius, and Remus said many years ago, they had adopted me because they never got married or had kids. Since they taught me everything they know, I'm their legacy.
I look over to Pans. Pansy is staring at me. She finally asks, "What the ever living fuck could you have done in four days to get yourself a fucking Order of Merlin? Did I miss something?"
I shrug. "This isn't public information, yet. Frank and Alice Longbottom have cured from the damages of the Cruciatus Curse."
She's staring at me with her mouth open in the most unladylike fashion. "Will you be my daughter's godmother?"
I laugh and hug her, "Of course, I will be honored!"
20 April, 2010
Gringott's Wizarding Bank
Ricbert's Office
Diagon Alley, London, England
Hermione Granger
I'm not sure there is a single word in the English language that means to torture oneself. Masochistic has a sexual denotation to it, and I'm definitely not aroused. Glutton for punishment is not a single word. In Chinese it's call chi ku, and translates to eat bitters. I am starting to believe every time I walk into Gringott's now, I am indeed torturing myself. I'm kind of pissed the English language is lacking so thoroughly to give me a single word to describe it.
I spent an hour reading some of Deity account of history. The very beginning was like Genesis in the Christian Bible and The Torah. Day one, the sun, moon, and stars were created. Day two the sky and waters were created. That is where any similarities stop.
The book states, Gaia pulled out the hairs on her head and created five million beings by cutting the hairs. One female in her image and one male to worship, satisfy, and protect the female. Gaia next gave them the ability to communicate, to have knowledge, and to create magic. Gaia gave her Deities the ability to create and express emotions. Gaia gave them free will to create the world they wanted to live in. The Deites created the vegetation, the wildlife, and sea creatures. They created the civilizations throughout the land. They created language and the written word. They created art, music, and literature.
Why would they allow generations of civilizations to continue all the bullshit prejudices? I have been all around the world and have met people of all race, religion, size, and stereotype. I'll admit some people are just assholes, and there isn't anything you can do to solve that. I have also witnessed so much beauty in the world, that is filled with extraordinary people. Why would the Deities allow the sons of The Fallen to suffer for the crimes of their fathers for so long?
"Miss Granger, it's lovely to see you again today, how may I be of service to you." Ricbert walks to his desk and takes a seat.
I smile, "Ricbert, thank you. I would like to tour all my vaults and document some of the items, please."
He asks, "Would you like the Young Mr. Weasley to accompany you?"
I smile, "If Bill is available, that would be lovely. I understand you are a busy individual."
He nods, "I appreciate your concern. I will have Mr. Weasley accompany you. Thank you."
He presses a series of buttons on his desk, and within five minutes Bill knocks on the door. We first travel to Vault number 8. I take a straight pin and prick my finger and place it in the door. The door opens and the room is illuminated.
The room is full of gold, bronze, and silver statues. Gold statues of horses, unicorns, dinosaurs, dragons, chimeras, and other animals. It appears to have no ending. The vault is massive. There is a statue of a full size lion in gold with a bronze mane and jeweled eyes. The animals are all to scale and extremely detailed. There is a full size silver Elephant with marble tusks. There is a gold statue of Atlas holding the Earth. The Earth is detailed in jewels. I take a closer look at the Earth and the continent is connected. Meaning some of these treasures date back to before The Great Deity War. It seems there are all animals magical, imaginary, and natural located in this room. They are exquisite. There are several I can't identify, and some that are a bit daunting. As we walk through the huge vault, I am overwhelmed by the accuracy and imagination of some of the pieces. There are some variations or repeated animals in jade and marble. There are giant eggs made of gems, a colorful jeweled accented parrot, and there is a case in the middle filled with insects, made of gold, some bronze, some jeweled. We walk deeper into the vault and animals turn into vegetation. All kinds of plants. The trees are enormous and it appears the leaves have all be cut and detailed to reflect what a real tree would look like, only they are gold. It's unbelievable the detail of these statues. There is a full size gold and sapphire blue whale hanging from the ceiling. It's as if someone had designed these pieces with an unlimited about of jewels, precious metals, and stones.
As we continue to walk through the vault, I ask Bill, "Have the items in this vault been tested for authenticity?"
Bill smiles, "I tested the pieces we cataloged. Ophelia didn't know where the vault came from. We listed what we could recognize, but she gave up with the dinosaurs. It was just on the list of vaults Hector left her. They are all gold, silver, or bronze. There are a few platinum pieces. The jewels are authentic. Some of the materials are marble, or an unidentified stone."
I nod, "Alright. Let's see what's in the back."
As we move to the back the vegetation changes to people or humanoids. I see a statue of a half ape half human. There is a full size giant. Then we are staring at rows and rows of shelves. The shelves have people lined up. Statues of people and writing on the base. They are about two feet tall. There are 18 rows of shelves stacked with these statues about 4 high, and go back for as far as I can see. I stand in front of one with a male. He is gorgeous with muscles rippling down his chest. He is holding a lightening bolt. He is wearing a wreath of what appears to be olive branches and maple leaves.
I ask Bill, "Can you use magic in here?"
He nods, "Of course, I have full authorization."
I smile, and ask, "Can you see what this one says on the bottom of the statute?"
He does a translation spell and it changes to English. It says Zeus. I realize these must be statues of the five million Deities lining these shelves.
We continue walking towards the back and the people begin to change to very strange beings. Then finally at the back of the vault. There is a life size statue of Gaia.
I look at the back wall and find more statues of things I recognize, but don't have a name for. There is a humanoid with and eagle's head. I see a statue of what muggles think Angels look like with full wings. A few look like something out of a horror film. We start moving back towards the door.
When we get to the door, I look at Bill and ask, "Can you wait for me outside please?"
He bows his head, "Of course."
I wait for him to leave and place my right hand over my heart and start thinking of this room. Then a small parchment appears to be floating down from the ceiling, and I grab it. It reads, "Do I need to revoke your ring in your sleep, my child?"
I place my hand over my heart again and think, "No, but can you tell me what these gold statues are?"
Another parchment appears from the ceiling. "I believe it's what humans today call a prototype."
I place my hand over my heart and think, "Are they mine to do with as I wish?"
Another parchment appears, "Yes, now let me have my meal."
I shake my head and giggle, then I leave the vault.
Bill is standing near the cart, and asks, "Where to next?"
I take the parchment out of my bag with the lists of my vaults and say, "Vault 126, please."
He smiles, "So what do you think all of the huge dragon statues are worth?"
I laugh, "I'm not sure there are a lot of people who could afford to buy one. I don't even want to guess the cost of the brachiosaurus, or the giant blue whale covered in sapphires."
He laughs, "I'm not sure you could afford, that one, Hermione."
I shake my head, "I understand why the worth of my vaults is undeterminable. Fuck!"
He laughs, "You haven't seen everything yet."
I bury my head in my hands. This is ridiculous! The Draupnir is a cursed item. I'll never wear it. Who needs this much wealth? It's a waste to have so much when so many are suffering….Hmmm.
"We're here." Bill says as he pulls me out of my thoughts.
I thank him and we enter Vault 126.
Ok. I get it. The Dagworth-Granger's were ridiculously wealthy thieves! This is so out of the realm of reality that I just want to fucking go back home to New York and hide in my house for the next month.
The first thing I see in the fucking vault is the Ark of the Covenant. I walk up to it and feel the magic. I step back and ask Bill to reveal it's magic. I pick up the catalog of items, and it starts out listing item after item until the fifth page and in Ophelia's handwriting it says, " I give up!"
He does a few diagnostic spells. He says, "The spell only shows it has strong muggle resistance magic."
I ask Bill, "Do you know where all of these things come from?"
I shakes his head, "I walked the length of the vault with Ophelia, and there were many items we couldn't identify their origin. It appears to be from every ancient culture known and unknown. There is another vault that seems to pick up where this one left off and some of the items in the front of the vault are from the last century."
I nod, "I don't know how anyone could sort all of this out. The stack of items is twenty feet high."
He nods, they are all on some sort of pedestal. There are a few display cases.
I walk up to the ark and remove the lid. Inside it is full of every type of gem about the size of my fist. I look at it very confused. What the actual fuck is this? Then, something catches my attention in my peripheral vision and I turn my head and see five more arks that appear to be the same design. I take a seat on a nearby marble bench and start laughing.
Bill comes to sit next to me, "What's so funny?"
I stop laughing long enough to say, "This chest is in the shape of the Ark of the Covenant. It's a muggle religious relic that contains the Ten Commandments. When I walked in and saw this chest, I was close to a panic attack." Then I pointed to the corner with five other chests that are identical to this one. "Then I opened it and it only contains a bunch of gems. I was so confused until I saw those chests over there."
He laughs, "I see. There are quite a few of those chests in this vault. There is only one with an extraordinary stasis charm on it. There is a nasty muggle curse on it as well."
WHAT?! "Where is it?"
He says follow me. He takes me back about fifty feet and over to an ark on a two foot pedestal. I look at some of the items around it. There are gold, cups, plates, and bowls. The are statues of every size. There are weapons, armor, shields, and helmets. It appears to be a potpourri of anything that might be of value. It seems to go back as far as I can see. This vault is every bit the size of the Room of Hidden things if not bigger. I shake my head and refocus on the ark in front of me. I use non-verbal magic to see what I can tell about the item. It does contain magic, and like Bill said, a muggle curse and strong stasis charms.
I ask, "Bill can you remove the muggle curse?"
He nods and says, "One moment." I watch Bill work and he removes the curse with ease.
I step up to it and open it. Fuck! It contains two stone tablets, a gold jar and a sapphire wand with a floral handle, Aaron's Rod, I am presuming. Was Moses a wizard? It was believed wizards were the gods, but I learned today the gods were actually the Deities. Why would they write themselves out of histories?
Aaron's Rod was endowed with miraculous power. During the Plagues of Egypt before Moses freed the slaves of Egypt. I pick up the sapphire wand and I feel a surge of power. I think of what Mr. Ollivander said all those years ago. "The wand chooses the wizard, that much has always been clear to those of us who have studied wandlore." I set the wand back in the ark and a place the cover on it. I already have the Elder Wand I keep hidden in a safe at home, I don't need another one I can't explain.
We walk further into the vault and it's like walking back in time. The farther we go, the more things change. I notice a Greek influences, Egyptian influences, Mayan influences, and the further back we go, I can't recognize what the symbols on the items are suppose to represent. The items all seem a repeat, but different cultures influences. I can't even fathom how long it would take to go through all these items. We are about halfway through the vault, and I just don't care any longer. I tell Bill I've seen enough and we head towards the exit.
Next, I remember I'm still carrying the chalice and decide to go back into Vault 144. When we arrive I head to the back of the vault to put the chalice in it's case.
Bill asks, "Is that the Sword of Gryffindor?"
I smirk, "It appears so."
Bill runs his hand through his hair and exclaims, "Blimey!"
I laugh, "Indeed."
We walk for a while until I finally find what I ws looking for. I take a deep breath and walk up to the mirror and read the inscription, "erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on woshi." Huh. Then I see it, "I show not your face, but, your hearts desire." I close my eyes and step up to the mirror. When I open them I see myself alone. I'm older, I'd guess around 50 years old. I'm alone. I knew it was the best thing. Then I see an older Draco walk up to me and kiss my temple. He stands behind me and wraps his arms around older Hermione. He whispers something in her ear, and I laugh. Next I see Sasha and Theo come to stand next to us on the left. Sasha looks exactly the same, except she has an inch strip of silvery white hair on the right side of her face. Theo is wearing glasses, and has a touch of gray in his beard. Next I see Harry and Daphne. Harry's hair is really short, and he is wearing a cardigan. Daphne is older, but still flawless. Next, a young man appears. He looks about 20. He is the spitting image of Theo with Sasha's large almond shaped brown eyes. He has Theo's brilliant smile and seems to be laughing. Next a young woman comes to stand next to him. She's beautiful. She has long curly black hair and striking silver eyes. She's rather short, but taller than Hermione is by a couple inches. She stands next to the young man and he playfully nudges her. She walks over to stand next to Harry and Daphne and that is when a young man around her age comes up behind her and kisses her neck and wraps his arms around her and looks up at me. He's Daphne's twin with familiar emerald green eyes. I take a closer look at the girl in his arms. She's has Draco's eyes, nose, and jaw line, but she has my lips, cheek bones, and brow line. I take a deep breath. Next a spitting image of Draco walks into the mirror. He looks at me and smiles, he has my honey brown eyes. A young girl comes into the picture skipping into his arms, and Theo gives the young man a murderous look. When the girl turns around she is a replica of Sasha with brilliant aquamarine eyes, Theo's eyes. Next two blond girls in their early to mid teens come into view. They whisper to each other and the Hermione in the mirror appears to be scolding them. They turn around and face me. I gasp. They are mirror images of myself, but with Draco's hair and eyes. They smirk at me. Draco's smirk. They have a mischievous look about them, and seem to be watching me with knowing eyes. Next comes a boy. He appears to be about 10 or 11. He looks exactly like me if I were a little boy at the age of 11. Same hair, though his is rather short. Same eyes and facial structure. Though he is built like Draco and has Draco's rather light skin tone. One of the twins ruffles his hair and he stomps his foot and raises his chin to say something to them then walks over to the older young man who looks like Theo with Sasha's eyes. The young man seems to mumble something and puts his hand on the young boy's shoulder in a protective gesture.
My breath catches. This is what Aponi described to Draco the day we visited the Truebloods. I heard Aponi talking to Draco, and I stayed back out of sight, so I could listen.
She said, "So you're the man that hurt my Mihkokwaniy? Never mind, I see it. I may be ancient, but I can see. You take care of my Mihkokwaniy. I'm dying next year. I'll attend your wedding, but I won't see your first daughter. She'll come in the spring in two years. She'll be a handful, she'll carry the Black line, name her Black, and her husband will be a second son and take her name. He's a Black by blood too, distant cousin. Your son will be studious and quiet, it's the quiet ones you have to look after, he'll be cunning. He'll marry my Sasha's daughter. The twins will look like angels, but will challenge you more than the others. Don't teach them time magic, too damn smart for their own good. The baby will be a boy. He'll have perfect duplication magic that passes through Mia, name him Dagworth-Granger to pass the line. Stop at five, the sixth one will be a dark lord. Give my Mihkokwaniy time. She'll forgive you, but don't push her. I have spoken."
She spoke of Sasha's son coming soon. Holy fucking shit! The young man, the first one is Sasha and Theo's son. The girl is Draco and I's daughter. She'll carry the Black line and marry a distant cousin who is also a Black, Hyperion Potter. Harry's grandmother was a Black. I look at the younger Draco look a like. " He'll marry my Sasha's daughter." The twins will challenge you more than the others. I watch the mirror as one of the twins seems to be arguing with Draco. The baby will be a boy, a Dagworth-Granger. I watch as the younger boy pulls out a book and looks to be discussing it with what appears to be Sasha's son.
"I show not your face, but your hearts desire." My breath hitches as I ponder this. I take one last look at my family, they are so beautiful! I step away from the mirror until they fade away. I look for Bill and see him about fifty feet away, and walk up to him.
I ask, "Are you ready?"
He nods, "Yes, this vault is full of magical items. Can't you feel the magic radiating in this vault?"
I nod, "One day we need to identify all of this, but today is not that day. Let's go to vault 236."
We travel in the cart to 236 and I open the vault. I step inside and it appears the ceiling is covered in very elaborate chandeliers. The first one definitely has 1960's influence. It's avocado green with orange flowers blooming out from the base. Horrific!
I look at Bill and ask, "Are there any more Arks in this vault?"
He laughs, "No these items are made within the last three to four thousand years.
I take a quick look see a definite 20th century influence and decide I have seen enough. I take a moment to appreciate the display of beautiful Tiffany lamps, and turn to leave.
Next we go to vault 237. I open the vault and gasp. Staring at me is the Andy Warhol painting of Marilyn Monroe, next to it is a Jackson Pollock. The room is full of paintings for as far as I can see. There are several rows of makeshift walls with rows of paintings. The paintings are hung on the walls there are several crates under the paintings that seem to house more paintings. Stacked inside. There are about 25 rows of paintings and looking down the rows it appears to have no end. To the right I start to hear several voices and walk until I see a row of magical paintings. I look at Bill and he laughs at the expression on my face.
He says, "Ophelia had the same reaction."
I shake my head, "Let's go."
We get in the cart, and I ask, "I have three vaults with a ridiculous amount of galleons, is there anything in those I should know about?"
Bill answers, "I'm not entirely sure. Ophelia didn't care about those vaults when we were going through the vaults."
I nod, "Let's go to vault 851."
We arrive at vault number 851 and go ahead of Bill to open it. I breath a sigh of relief because it is a rather tiny vault with what appears to be four items sitting on pedestals. The first item is a brownish red bowl. It's simple. I'm confused. The next item is a rather large stone that is also a brownish red. On the third pedestal are three gold apples. The last item is a scroll. I reach for the scroll, it seems the safest. I open it, and translate it non-verbally and wandlessly. The top of the page simply says Ambrosia. Ambrosia is thought to be the food of the Greek Gods and depicted as conferring longevity or immorality. I place the scroll down.
I look at the three gold apples, and I remember the story. In Norse mythology Idun, the goddess of spring, was the keeper of the golden apple orchard and it granted ever lasting life to the gods. The stone is obviously the Philosopher's Stone. The bowl. It's a simple bowl. Like it was carved out of the same material the Philosopher's Stone is made of. Fuck me running, it's the Holy Grail. I immediately leave the vault. I'll ponder this another day. How can someone have immortality and unlimited wealth like this? There are no Dagworths still alive that I know of, so it doesn't make sense to have these items just sitting in a vault. There has to be an explanation. I really need to take the time to read the journals in Dagworth Castle.
I walk out of the vault and Bill is standing at the entrance. I ask, "Why didn't you join me?"
He shrugs, "I wasn't permitted to enter, in fact I can't even see the vault."
Interesting. Could this be a vault trusted to The Morrigan?
He asks, "Where to next?"
I say, "Vault 1109."
He laughs and shakes his head, "It's all books Hermione. It's 4:30PM and we are not taking you of all people into a vault full of books today. I want to have dinner with my wife."
I laugh, "Fair enough. How about 1609?"
He nods. It take a few minutes to arrive and I open the vault. It's full of journals. Journals stacked on the floor and in shelves around the moderately large room. I pick one up and open the cover and it reads, "Cassius Leopold Malfoy 1635." I pick up a second journal and the inside it says, "The thoughts and dreams of Evangeline Flint 1743."
I look at Bill. "Is there anything other than journals in here?"
He says, "Follow me."
We head to the back of the rather modest size room and folded on the floor in stacks appears to be folded up tapestries. I take one and unfold it and at the top reads Remington. It's a family tree tapestry. I look at the bottom of the tapestry and find Colton and his brother Dalton. I fold the tapestry up and put it in my beaded bag, it will make a great wedding present for Colton and Kelly. There are about 700 tapestries here. I look at Bill and ask, "Are all these British wizarding famlies?"
He nods, "It appears so. Even some long extinct lines."
I nod, and say, "Next is 1611."
We walk over to vault 1611. This vault is larger and appears to have four rows of cabinets lining the room with several thin drawers, a few cupboards, and mirrors throughout. I walk over to one of the cupboards and it's full of tiaras. I shake my head and close the cupboard. I walk over to one of cabinets and open one of the thin drawers, and gasp. It's the most beautiful yellow diamond set I have ever seen. It has a tiara, an intricate necklace, a bracelet, and earrings. I open a couple other draws and they are some of the most beautiful pieces of jewelry I have ever seen. I realize this entire vault is one large jewelry cabinet.
We don't linger, we head to the last vault on my list, vault number 1940. We I enter I see to my left are headless mannequins with wedding dresses. I walk to the first one and gasp because above it is a large photo of my mum on her wedding day. There are 10 dresses total with a coordinating photo or painting of the brides on their wedding day. Next to each is a pedestal with a small box. I open the small box, and it has my mum's marquis diamond and gold wedding ring set. I tear up. I looked everywhere for it when I went through their things. I look around the vault for a few minutes. There are several paintings of my dad, age 2, age 5, age 8, age 11, and age 18. There is a large wedding photo of Ophelia and I assume Hector. The next painting is of an older Hector. I look at it for a moment.
He speaks, "Are you not going to say hello?"
I jump, "I wasn't sure it was a wizarding painting, Sir."
He smiles, "Ah yes. I do make a rather nice statue as well. So are you going to introduce yourself, young lady?"
I smile, "I'm Hermione."
His face softens and he says, "Richie's girl. O spoke of you all the time. Do you mind taking me back to the Manor? I've been here a few weeks and I find I don't much like it."
I laugh, "Your father John asked me the same question the other day."
He chuckles, "O always found my jovial father quite annoying."
I smile, "I'll get you to the Manor right away."
I call for Hester and she takes him back to the Manor.
I spend a few minutes in the vault. The piano she had a Mina is in the vault. There are watches and trinkets. A few journals belonging to Oberion and Orlando Avery. A teddy bear and a christening gown in a box labeled Richard. The vault seems to be full of personal family items.
I leave the vault, and Bill and I leave the vault area. Once we are in the main part of the bank. I thanked him for his time.
As I was walking down Diagon Alley I contemplating all the items in the vaults. There is just too much. Why would anyone need so much stuff? I wonder if I could call the American TV show Hoarders, and let them clean up this shit.
My phone beeps and I get it out and see I have received a text from Draco.
Draco: Would you like to accompany me to dinner this evening to dine with Sasha and Theo at 7?
Me: Yes. I'm headed home now. See you later.
Phew….I need a drink. It's been a rather long day. I look around and disapparate to the Manor.
