A/N: Well, well, well. This went sideways very fast! I have no idea what we're going to do here (and after!) but let's just roll with it. The other thing is, my chapters always seem to end up with them falling asleep. How boring for you, sorry about that. I'm going to work on that moving forward. Even though they're literally always tired lol

Oh, that's me. That might be why lol

-0-

The Goblins of Gringotts were rather imperious and while they waited to be seen, Hermione was a little surprised at just how many people were waiting in the queue but made no comment as they waited in silence. There was a tension in the air that Hermione didn't like, but she stood stoically with her head on a swivel.

When someone came a bit closer than she'd like, she subtly shifted Minerva and kept her back to them while she glared.

Tha mi airson do thoirt dhachaigh agus a'bualadh a craigeann thu gus an dèan thu sgreuchail.

I beg your pardon?

Hermione turned to see the fire dancing in Minerva's eyes.

There is not a direct translation, but it is roughly what you wanted.

Hermione grinned at her and nudged her forward, just a little, with her hip. The Goblin presiding over the book looked down at them over his spectacles.

"Mistress McGonagall." His gaze slid over to Hermione. "And her guest." Hermione watched him pause and his beady eyes widened. "Mistress. My apologies."

"It's quite alright -" Minerva raised an eyebrow in question.

"Barkrag," he said haltingly. He had started glancing at the other goblins working beside him. One by one they seemed to realise something was happening and all the scratching quills paused as if by command.

"Oh dear," Minerva sighed and glanced her way. "What do we do now?"

"We'd like to go to Minerva's vault please," Hermione nodded. "With no fuss and nothing else needed from you and those working here."

It had a trace of an order which she tried not to make too apparent, but Barkrag seemed to hear it anyway and nodded. Another goblin shuffled forward and pointed to an elevator. Hermione did not have a vault here, but she had heard the stories from Harry and so she wasn't too overwhelmed when that goblin led them to a cart.

"This is the bit I'm a little worried about," Hermione mused as she helped Minerva into it. "I heard Harry going on about it and I can't say that it's my forte."

"Nonsense," Minerva smirked. "It is one of the few pleasures at this place."

Hermione laughed and made the goblin holding the keys startle. She tried to apologise but he seemed less than impressed so she left it. She got it and felt Minerva's hand squeeze her knee.

"Relax. We are quite safe."

"Hmm," she nodded. She held onto the card tightly as they set off at a break-neck pace. Though it seemed rather hectic, the magic on the cart made her feel quite secure and after a while she started paying attention to her surroundings. It was not a short journey to Minerva's vault and as they came to a stop, Hermione looked around.

"Mine is not one of the oldest," Min explained. "But it is rather old. I took over my mother's family's vault after her death - the Ross vault. As I have said before, we were not the oldest but we date back a long way."

"Nice," Hermione muttered.

As fascinated as she was with everything going on in front of her, something was niggling in the back of her mind. As Minerva confirmed the possession of her key and the door was opened, it revealed a long room filled with items of furniture and, much to Hermione's surprise, piles of books. There was a rather large pile of galleons as well.

"We could have bought two houses," Hermione mused with a wry grin when Minerva snorted. The goblin did not accompany them inside and Hermione stood at the door watching her love.

"Come in, darling," Minerva nodded. "Please."

"Wasn't sure whether I was allowed to."

"I invite you in." Minerva waved her in. "Please, love."

Hermione stepped over the threshold and immediately went a little dizzy.

"Whoa, the magic here is," she shook her head. "A lot."

"No doubt," Minerva whispered as she steadied her. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Hermione nodded. "Something is bothering me, though. Something here. Down here, I mean. It wasn't up there; there's something here that is very, very, uncomfortable."

Minerva paused and seemed to concentrate for a moment before she shook her head.

"I do not feel it, but that doesn't mean much. As you said, there is a lot of magic down here."

"Tell me about your vault then?"

"Not all my wealth is here. My grandmother always kept some tucked away for a rainy day, but I do keep the majority of my bits and pieces. There is arguably nowhere safer. This is the cot my brothers and I slept in." Hermione smiled as Minerva ran her fingers over the wood and pointed to a little case on an alcove in the wall. "A few historical baby toys, handed down from my mother's family. My father's bible."

Hermione's eyebrows raised.

"Regardless of how it ended, it was his -" Minerva sighed. "It was the most important thing to him.

Hermione trailed her fingers over the wood and pulled Minerva into her arms as she sought to change the sombre mood.

"Anything naughty?"

Minerva blushed and laughed as Hermione pointed over at a few boxes that shimmered with the magic over them.

"A few dark books," Minerva shrugged. "Found in the depths of the Ross household. I have cousins, et cetera, that took the majority. But I had a claim so I snagged a few of the worst ones." Hermione arched an eyebrow. "Mostly to keep them safe." She strode over to the far corner and cleared a space. "I'm going to put their things here. The goblins will note the value and would probably take it off them for galleons when it's time but I feel as though we should simply store it here and cover them for what they need."

"You know I don't mind," Hermione chuckled. "I don't even mind if you want me to put mine in here too? If you think that is sensible?"

"No, love," Minerva said softly. "You don't need to do that. We should get you your own vault, however; at least some of it should be in Galleons."

A little pulse of something made her turn and she stepped away from Minerva as if something had called her to do it.

"Darling?"

"Something is definitely not right, here."

Minerva dithered and put down Lucia's wares.

"Leannan," she said gently. "Please remember, we are not permitted to use magic down here."

"I understand that," Hermione growled. "But there's something here that shouldn't be."

"Leannan -" Hermione suddenly realised what it was and she tore out of the vault with purpose. "No! Hermione!"

"You," she hissed to the goblin at the cart. "Where is it?" He jumped but didn't answer. That did not sit well with her and she stepped forward.

"STOP!"

The command echoed in her head and she turned to regard Minerva with an anger she had not felt for a long time.

"Do not order me about, woman."

"Hermione," Minerva said carefully. "Leannan. Please listen to me. I need you to calm down. Whatever it is, we will deal with it, but not in anger." She glanced around. "Not here, love."

Hermione ignored everything she'd said and spun back to the unfortunately goblin manning the cart.

"Where is it!" The goblin, this time, looked very uncomfortable and Hermione noticed a few uniformed goblins stepping out of the shadows. "Do not make me find it myself."

"HERMIONE!"

"THEY HAVE A DRAGON DOWN HERE!"

The roar echoed as the silence from all parties confirmed her thoughts. She turned to their escort with a glare.

"You will take us to it, now."

"Mistress must forgive, we do not -"

"You will take us to it now or I will find it myself."

"Mistress, I cannot -"

"Then get someone down here that can."

"Hermione, please." Minerva said quickly as she stepped between them. "You have to calm down."

"The pain, Minerva," she hissed as she finally felt everything she needed to. "The pain -"

"Mistress wishes to see us?"

She turned and regarded a goblin she'd seen before.

"You usually work upstairs."

"I am Griphook." He didn't bow, but his body seemed to stiffen for a moment until he relaxed. "I am here to see to your request."

"It is not a request."

"It is," Minerva grabbed her arm and stared at her hard. "A request. To see the dragon you have residing here."

"Mistress, that is impossible. We do not -"

Hermione had had enough. Her wings whipped out and she felt them catch as the fire lit the space around them. Minerva swore and stepped away as the goblins eyes widened in the flare.

"Take me to the dragon."

There was no more discussion. An entourage of goblins escorted Hermione and Minerva down a series of steps and past the vaults a little deeper than where Minerva's was located. On and on, down so many steps that Hermione lost count. A monologue of warnings and unhappiness from Minerva accompanied her in her head but she paid no mind to it. The deeper they went, the closer she felt the dragon. As they rounded the corner, they set upon a path that took them past a few very, very old vaults and Hermione noticed quite a few names that she recognised.

The Sacred 28.

It was hissed into Hermione's brain and it was the only thing that made her pause. Minerva pressed into her back to keep her moving, while the woman's ire changed to a perverse checklist of names.

Most of them have joined Tom in his endeavours. Le Strange, Black, Malfoy. Not all, though; Abbott and of course, Longbottom. Prewett is Molly's heritage. She married into the Weasleys and it was rather a prudent match, all things considered. The two houses were joined and they continued that line, as we know. Hermione snorted. I had not realised that Kingsley dated all the way back, nor Macmillan.

Blood purity makes my skin crawl.

I know, love, but it is worth noting that while these are all here, Voldemort is not.

Gaunt is, Hermione mused. And we know how that went.

Minerva made a noise but was drowned out as a roar shook the floor they stood on.

"Oh my god," Hermione muttered.

The pain was so overwhelming, she stumbled and it was only Minerva's quick thinking that stopped her from falling down the last few steps.

They exited into a huge cavern and there, shackled in five places was the biggest dragon she'd ever seen. Her eyes widened as it roared again, like it could sense she was there as it shakily got to its feet.

"Easy," she said quietly. "Easy."

It snapped at the closest being and managed to grab the spear of one of the guards. In the muted light, Hermione could see shimmering marks on its neck above and below the iron collar it wore.

"Minerva," she hissed. "I need the light."

Darling, I cannot - if they -

Minerva.

Lumos Maxima

The light made them all blink and Hermione dropped to her knees as the full picture came into clarity. She had never seen a dragon so pale. And there, like a history book of its life, were as many scars as Minerva had on her body and two silver eyes that had no light in them at all.

"Oh," she whispered. "I'm so sorry."

"Mistress has seen it," Griphook said in a rather perfunctory manner. "Mistress must leave now."

Hermione's eyes were full of tears at the pain and she didn't even acknowledge him as she got to her feet.

"Leannan -"

She ignored that too as she stepped forward. The dragon pulled at the chains as it roared and shook the earth. She was in bite distance by now, but it did nothing but pull away. She was determined, however, to do something and she stopped and waited.

I mean you no harm. I know you do not know what or who I am, but I am not them.

A roar of pain filled her and she dropped to one knee. She felt Minerva at her back and pushed her behind as the dragon swung its head around. The chain that was being held by more than one goblin came loose and the cavern suddenly filled with more goblins brandishing sharp spears.

"STOP!" Hermione screamed as they jabbed at it. She was close enough that as the dragon swung its head against the onslaught, she had to push Minerva out of the way but she was not down for long. She stomped on the ground with both feet and felt a ball of fire start between her hands. She watched as the goblins close enough to her paused in their attack and as it grew, others noticed and stopped as well.

"If you touch this beast again, it will be the last thing you do."

Leannan, it is not wise to tell them what to do in their own place.

They will release this beast to me or I will do the right thing and rid them of it now.

Darling -

Minerva's words fell on deaf ears as Hermione turned to Griphook.

"Release it."

"Mistress, it is not yours to command."

Hermione felt it in her soul before she said it and she knew Minerva had as well.

"All are mine."

Griphook paused as he heard it. A sneer crossed his face and he looked as if he was fighting with himself.

"Mistress will forgive. This is ours."

"This is mine."

"Goblins are not serfs."

"I will be heard." The dragon had calmed and settled back onto its stomach as they were fighting with stern words. Hermione remembered Filius' words and stood straighter. "I will be obeyed."

Griphook sneered as he struggled against a bow.

"Release it."

Hermione realised her mistake as the goblins simply let go of the chains and as they rattled against the loops on the wall as the chain ran through it. All the goblins shuffled backwards, but it was Hermione's heart that broke as the dragon didn't even realise it was free.

She helped Minerva to her feet but ignored the rebuke for pushing her down. Their hands tangled naturally as they stepped forward. The dragon took a deep breath and seemed to hold it.

We mean you no harm. We have come to set you free.

Death.

Hermione wasn't sure what it meant as that one word seemed to ring through their brains like a shout in a cave, but the dragon clearly understood her words and stood. Its movements were belaboured and the muscles that she had seen in the dragons they had visited only days before were absent but the sheer size of it took most of the strain. Hermione pulled Minerva out of the way and behind one of the big columns as a roar pierced the cavern. Most of the goblins froze in their tracks as the dragon spat fire in a huge arc, incinerating everything in its wake.

Minerva buried her face in Hermione's shoulder as they listened to the screams and smelled the burning flesh but neither of them tried to stop it. Hermione's tears matched Minerva's as it finally went quiet.

"I am here," Hermione said as they came around the pole. "My mate and I are here and we would speak to you. We will free you, if you want. Whatever way you want."

We have nowhere for him to go.

Then we will find somewhere.

The dragon wound up, as if to spit fire again, but Hermione was quicker. She projected their memories of both their meeting with the dragon that had died and their meeting with the dragons on the mountaintop and it paused.

Kin.

Yes, she said gently. Your kin. We are Dragon. I would release you.

Youngling?

Hermione realised the terrible truth as a brief vision of the larger dragon's calls being answered and Minerva made a sob as they realised there was more than one dragon down here.

"I do not know what to do." Hermione said suddenly. "We have nowhere for more than one dragon to go. Nowhere to place them. He's huge. We cannot smuggle him between two broomsticks like we did Hagrid's."

"We could ask the dragons?"

"They are native dragons. None as big as him, they may not even be able to communicate with him."

"But they may know some way to heal him?"

Minerva made a noise of frustration and they stood thinking for a moment before Hermione turned and snapped her fingers.

"Charlie!" Hermione suddenly realised. "We need Charlie."

"And in the meantime? You have promised him freedom."

Hermione closed her eyes as the big dragon laid his head at her feet.

Death.

She glanced at Minerva, who looked heartbroken at the two of them and then back at the dragon.

That is so final. We can find you somewhere to go, we could free you.

Pain.

Hermione reached forward and touched its snout. It jumped and then shivered as her hand - so small compared to him - rubbed along his skin.

How?

As we are born.

It breathed out and Hermione saw the way that Dragon mothers woke their children from their eggs. A huge plume of fire engulfed the nest and the eggs cracked like cartoon drawings.

She turned to Minerva and stared at her.

"You asked him and he answered," Minerva sniffed. "We must do as he asks."

"But I don't -"

"Darling?" Minerva whispered as she cupped her cheeks. "We must do this for him."

"And what of the other?"

"We will free it and take it to Charlie."

Hermione took a shuddering breath and let it out slowly.

How will I know it is enough?

It will be enough.

Will it hurt?

Life is not pain.

"Remember, Leannan," Minerva whispered as she slid her hand down Hermione's arm and joined her hand on the dragon's snout. "What the female showed us. Fire heals." She bowed her head, though the dragon could not see her. "Life is not pain. Fire is life."

It rumbled its agreement and Hermione sobbed a little again.

"It is so much."

"You are First, mo ghaol. My First. Their First. This is your burden but you do not bear it alone. I am here with you."

"I need you."

"I am here, Leannan. I am right here with you."

You are sure? I will set you free but you are sure.

Pain is not life.

Hermione closed her eyes and stepped back from the dragon with a sigh. Minerva lingered and through their bond, she heard a string of Gaelic that she translated from Minerva's thoughts as a wish for a strong death. It made Hermione feel even worse. She sighed and realised that everything hurt. Everything was pain and she wondered how much of that was his and how much was hers.

There was a roar from elsewhere and the dragon lifted its big head. It roared back and in that, a tear fell from Minerva's eye as she joined Hermione with their fingers tangled.

Youngling comes.

There was a commotion at the back of the cabin as a great crash echoed through their bones, almost. A smaller dragon, one similar in size to the one Harry faced in the TriWizard tournament crashed through the back wall and turned to unleash a column of fire that was so hot it turned blue. Minerva once again buried her face in Hermione's body, but Hermione could not feel it. She watched as the dragon turned with so much anger and fear in its eyes.

It paused as the big dragon picked up its head and stared at them. It almost confirmed Hermione's suspicions that they could communicate beyond what she could hear and it was only after she realised that the hole at the back was slowly being picked over by more Goblins that she stepped forward.

"Permit me to stop them from joining us, for now."

The dragon turned and went to release more fire, but Hermione held up her hand.

"We will do it."

She knew, despite her feelings, that what they had done here would not endear her to the goblins ever again. The least she could do was prevent more of them dying. The young dragon seemed to huff and left them to it. Minerva stepped forward and drew her wand, repairing the wall with a long arch and swirl of her wand which made her body arch in a way that ordinarily would make Hermione smile.

She did not have it in her today.

"Come on, love," Minerva said softly. "It's time."

The cavern seemed so quiet as she looked over at the tired dragon and watched as the smaller one; a Hungarian Horntail, now she could see a bit more of it, nudged its snout with its own.

"I do not want this," Hermione whispered as Minerva stepped up beside her. "I do not want to be this."

"But you are," Minerva said gently. "You and only you. But never alone, my love. Not for one moment."

Hermione glanced at her and met watery eyes. She closed them as Minerva's hand gave her strength and they rejoined the dragons.

I will help him to death.

The younger dragon didn't speak but seemed to nod as it snapped its jaws on a little burst of fire.

Hermione took a deep breath and tried to stop herself from crying. Minerva altered her hand and their palms rested against each other as she squeezed her hand. Hermione felt their bond flare and her emotions abate for now. She turned back to the dragons.

Is there anything I need to know, or anything you wish me to know?

Life is not pain. Pain is not life.

She nodded and took a deep breath. With their bond controlling a lot of her emotions, she had a little more space to figure out how she was going to do this.

"What if this damages the cavern?"

"I do not think it will," Minerva said gently. "And I believe our new friend here might know a way out afterwards."

She glanced over at the young one, who seemed to be following a little of what they were saying and shook its head resolutely.

We will do this and then you will show us a way out. My only request is that we should try not to damage this place further. It roared and she held out her hand. I do not agree with what they have done, but this is a Wizarding need. There are things here that cannot be damaged or lost.

It roared again and snapped its jaws in frustration but it seemed to acknowledge it even as it agreed.

Thank you.

It seemed to have no interest in learning anything about how to speak to them and she did not blame it one bit. Instead, she turned back to the dragon and reached out to touch its nose again.

I am sorry that they did this. Please forgive us for not knowing. The younger one snapped again and she acknowledged it with a sigh. For not wanting to know.

"It's time, Leannan. The goblins will not allow us to be here much longer without interference."

"Will you -" Hermione's voice cracked and Minerva cupped her cheek as she kissed her softly. "Like when we were in the Tower?"

Minerva smiled again, sadly, and stepped in front of her. Their hands naturally found each other over Minerva's stomach and after a moment of comfort, between them, a small flame appeared. As they drew their hands apart, it grew and grew until it was as wide as they were and as hot as anything they had felt.

"Don't let me go," Hermione muttered as she slid her hands alongside Minerva's. "Do not let this go."

"Gus am bi sinn mar dhuslach fànais agus draoidheachd, a leannan." [Until we are space dust and magic, my love/r.]

Hermione's eyes closed and she felt her wings unfold again. She felt the power building beneath her chest, somewhere in her belly. And in the back of her mind, something else was happening.

We are here. Lucia's voice. Amalle's voice confirmed their presence and then, surprising both of them, so did Blake's.

I do not understand. But I am here as well.

Hermione took another deep breath and realised that if she concentrated, she could feel all of them, every person who had taken her mark, deep in her heart. In her very soul.

Our family is here to help. Minerva said softly, so that all parties could hear. There will be no more pain for him.

The big dragon let out a long sigh as the fire between them grew, Hermione manipulated their hands and threw the fire forward as the young Hungarian Horntail did the same. She almost yelled in pain as the fire hit the old beast in the chest and she felt him shudder, deep within her mind. She held them steady, even as she seemed to exit her body and appear in a field beyond where they were.

You are worthy.

Hermione blinked as she looked up. The huge beast was as big a dragon as she'd ever seen, but in this form, he seemed whole. His skin shone in the sun she had no reference for. His scales seemed as sharp as knives and his eyes were so blood red, they almost looked black as he turned to look at her.

You are whole. She marvelled at his sheer size.

In this form, they could not break me. I knew nothing of my kin, save the feelings in my heart.

I am sorry.

The big dragon shook his head and trumpeted his voice into the air.

Not for you to be sorry. I feel all you have felt. Love all you have loved. We will speak to you, as First. All of us. You must never fear us. We have seen your heart and we have seen hers. As you are ours, we are yours. I thank you, Hermione Granger, for my death.

You're saying that you can, what, speak to all of them?

We share one soul. Wizards do not hear of it. Wizards must not hear of it. And so, you are tasked with more secrets. Like those before you, but not alone.

Hermione understood and bowed her head. The tears she shed from before rained down in earnest now as she bid goodbye to this powerful beast. She was so lonely suddenly that she could no longer comprehend it. As he breathed out pure heat over her, she shook as she came back into existence behind Minerva and her flame went out. The dragon was no more than a pile of smoking bones and she could not stand the thought of it.

Minerva turned immediately and wrapped her up in her arms, but she could not delight in it. The younger dragon huffed and shook its head and the two of them felt its presence in their minds.

Come. We leave.

Minerva glanced at her for an explanation but Hermione had no energy to give it. She nodded Minerva forward and followed in the dragon's wake as the weaved down tunnel after tunnel.

The air feels fresh.

The dragon turned and regarded Minerva for a moment.

This is the way.

Minerva didn't comment again, but Hermione felt it as they seemed to start an incline. It made sense that there would be a safety tunnel somewhere but she didn't make too much note of it. It would be unlikely that they would ever be allowed back into Gringotts ever again, let alone via an unprotected tunnel. She turned to tell Minerva the same thing, but the woman smiled and shushed her.

"We will sort all that, at a later date. Albus will help if necessary."

Hermione trudged on, until the dragon stopped.

Too big.

Hermione peered down the way and saw that it was correct. The tunnel would barely fit a goblin, let alone a human and certainly not a Hungarian Horntail. She looked beseechingly at Minerva, who smiled and kissed her gently.

"Fear not, my love. I am rather adept at magic."

She couldn't even smile as Minerva squeezed past the dragon and pointed her wand at the tunnel. It opened, impossibly, just enough to fit the dragon if it shimmied its way through and then, as Hermione stepped out into a large cave, shimmered back to the size it had been.

"I doubt it is worth recalling where this is as it will have disappeared by tomorrow." Minerva said, echoing Hermione's previous thoughts. "But I will do," she winked at Hermione. "Just in case."

This outside cave was cleaner, somehow. Without the stench of dragon and brimstone and fire. She took her first breath of fresh air as they stepped out onto the flats of a river.

"Where are we, do you suppose?"

Hermione shrugged and felt the first frisson of worry from Minerva. They turned to see the dragon shrink back from the light. Hermione turned and placed her hand on its neck.

If you will stay here, I will send help. I must contact a friend who works with your kind. He will take you somewhere safe, across the ocean where they cannot find you. Back to where your kind are from.

The dragon looked at her dubiously.

I will wait for two sunrises.

I will try my best to get him to you. Will you know him if he comes?

He is your kin?

He is my friend, not my kin. I will meet him and bring him here for you.

I will meet with him.

She nodded and sighed. She looked around at the landscape and sighed.

I will get you some food.

I will be fine.

Hermione went to argue but Minerva stopped her.

"It is time for us to retreat and lick our wounds, mo goal," Minerva soothed her frown. "Leave it be and we will go home and take care of you."

"I can't -" Hermione shuddered. "I can't get us -"

"Come here, my love," Minerva said softly. "Hold onto me."

Hermione leaned on Minerva and let her hold her tightly. She felt strong hands curl in her jacket and they disappeared with a squeeze and a pop, reappearing in their field, near the sea.

"Min, I can't -"

"Just a little while longer, my love," Minerva pleaded. "Just a little more strength."

Hermione broke into tears and managed to catch herself from falling on Minerva's arm. She was helped into the house and before she could say anything, Minerva had undressed her and helped her into bed.

"Be at ease, my darling love. We're home and I am here."

Hermione couldn't even form a sentence for her sobs as she sank into the mattress and cried into her pillow. Minerva's warm body settled in behind her and while she whispered that it would be alright, Hermione continued to cry, fearing that she would never feel whole again.