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Chapter 34: Roses with Thorns

The Malfoy Manor,10th December 2010, 0630 GMT

Athena walked down from her super luxury room, where she now felt increasingly at home. Draco was his own Secret Keeper and Hermione and She herself had trained him to recognize a Real Hermione or another family member from a false one.

After their intense discussion, Lucas decided that all of them needed to wind down. All of them shifted to Malfoy Manor and updated the Residents including Dudley, Celia and Narcissa. Unlike their expectations, they did not get a reply last night even after Natalie communicated to Nathan about the change of venue and his new directions to visit the moor 2 miles outside the Malfoy Manor. The Manor was guarded to the teeth with Z*, Z, 300 invisible Y level and 1500 visible X Level guards all across the perimeters of the property.

Athena went down to the dining room and found Luna engaged in a deep conversation with Hermione.

Luna was saying, "I wanted a grant from you for my Unicorn research which has magical healing properties against dark spells but after your grant to Celia's sister Rosalyn, I am afraid you won't have much to spare. I don't understand how you spent valuable funds on Muggles."

Hermione looked at her with surprise, "Where is this attitude coming from? We are all in here as a team. Dr Celia must have had a solid reason to involve Dr Rosalyn in the team and she compensated her with funds. 300,000 Galleons used in high octane research, out of which only 20% has been actually disbursed, is not that big of a deal. As a leader of Budgets, I have allocated enough emergency funds to carry out high tech research over the next 50 years. If you want a grant, you can tell me without any hesitation. I fully trust Dr Celia and I fully trust you. However, you are not to bear any ill will against your own team. Will 2 Million Galleons over the next 6 months cover your requirements?"

Luna looked at her speechless, "Actually with all my expenses and machines liberally covered, I was about to ask for 1 Million Galleons over the next 5 years. With this amount, I can sponsor the research efforts of my students as well and set up a scholarship for new bright talent. I don't know what to say."

Hermione nodded, "Tell you what, I will make you the official recipient of all Zoology related research grants, in view of your passion and talent and you also get to collaborate with Charlie Weasely. To your combined teams, I am assigning 20 Million Galleons funds annually with assured research funding for next 2 decades. You also have to coordinate with Zoology research across the Magical World and Muggles. This means Athena, Penelope and Veena are in with you as well."

Luna's head appeared to be swimming. "Even after paying off everyone else liberally, My team still gets 6 Million Galleon Annually. That is 30 times my most cherished dream budget. I can literally set up the finest academy of talented Zoology Research students and professors and still have enough left over to keep an endowment fund for the team. I have no words to thank you, Hermione."

"The only way you can do that is by having a razor sharp focus on your research. Just focus on your work without bearing any gripe towards others."

Luna apologized to Hermione and went her way. Hermione saw Athena enter and smiled at her to join her for an early breakfast.

Athena smiled back, "Had problems sleeping with a restless Erwina?"

Hermione quizzed, "How did you know?"

Athena laughed, "With my Sherlock Holmes observation skills. You have blue bags under your eyes. Your right collar has a single drop of cough potion. The unique color and smell of the potion indicates that it is for children. There is only one child here that demands your attention. You could gave given her the potion much earlier but you believe in the natural healing ability of the body, even at the cost of your dear sleep."

Hermione laughed back, "You are too good, Athena."

As both of them started to amble into a Spanish Omelet, specially prepared by Pansy and Patrick, Malcom gave her an urgent buzz. She permitted him to make himself visible.

Malcom bowed to her, "I am sorry to interrupt your breakfast, but there are a few folks in here to meet you. One wants to see you right now and the other two after half an hour. We have thoroughly checked them for all security procedures."

Hermione nodded. 2 minutes later she nearly spilled the Orange Juice on her shirt as she took in the identity of the 'guest' who wanted to meet her. Molly was standing quietly in the doorway.

Hermione dropped her cutlery and forgetting everything else, simply charged in and tearfully embraced Molly. Other members had seen Molly on a rotation basis but Hermione was seeing her now after the Delhi Mission.

Hermione turned back and called out Patrick. "Patrick, every Order Member must get dressed and meet me here in the next 15 minutes."

As everybody entered, they took turns in welcoming Molly. Even then, she was not involved in a joyous manner. Hermione noticed this and asked her to spell out what was on her mind.

"Hermione, as much as I love being back with my loved ones, I carry a load of bad news and problems for all of you. Their decision to let me go is in no way, a free lunch."

Hermione and Harry nodded, "We are aware of that. We also have ideas of the different aspects of the challenges facing us. At the same time, if Hermione has taught me one thing, it is the gratitude for the present moment. At this instant, you are with us and our Order is complete. Together, we will face any challenge that is coming our way."

Hermione smiled at Harry even as Draco and Ron gave him a jovial hi5.

Tears dropped as Molly replied, "Hermione had entrusted me with just one Mission and I could not complete it. I may be a good home maker but give me one Mission and I create heaps of problems for you. Had I not been charitable, they would not have captured me."

Harry shook his head, "If the Head of Aurors can fall for such tricks, you were merely carrying out a Rare Mission. Please don't beat yourself over this."

Hermione smiled kindly, "Aunt Molly, you just had 2 active involvements in Missions and both were critical successes. You were the one to kill Bellatrix and you were the one who assimilated knowledge from Adena, Athena and Veena as you permanently sealed the Yellow Box. Without your involvement, our Magical Universe would still be in extreme chaos. We are extremely proud of you, both as an invisible guiding force for us and for your Active Missions."

Molly smiled back, "Hermione, the greatest leaders are Heroes within and put forth a shining mirror for their followers, so that they can see their own Heroes within. I can safely say, that in my entire long life, you are the Greatest Leader, I have come across and this is not something I am saying just for the heck of it."

Hermione nodded her thanks. As Molly settled in, Hermione asked her other 2 guests via Z security to meet them on Par 5 tee, 7th Golf Hole, instructing Pernie and Kreachera to set up the tables there. She had a good idea who they were and asked the Security team to disarm them and take away their wands.

Hermione nodded grimly at her Core team, Athena and Adena and asked everybody except Natalie, Dudley and Celia, to proceed to the 7th Tee.

In hindsight, Hermione's instincts served her right. Standing in front of her in black silk masks were two Wizards who oozed Malevolence. They were nothing like the warm spirits of Nathan and Wolff. Even though their faces were covered, it was clear to everybody that they wore a big sneer.

Hermione smiled to them as all of them sat around the guests in a semi circle, "Welcome to Malfoy Manor."

The taller one replied, "Cut the crap! Folks of our kind are never welcome in these parts. We also do not bear any good news for you, so this kind of cordial hosting is premature and wasteful."

Hermione's smile broadened, "It has been my experience that all defensive behavior is born out of fear. You have nothing to be afraid about us. We are willing to calmly hear out all that you have to say."

The shorter one gave a derisive laugh, "We will see how much calmness you retain after we deliver our news. Ander Miller and the 3rd in Command are visionaries and pacifists but their views do not harmonize with most of the Dark World. We came here instead of Nathan, to put forth the views of the Dark World majority. First of all, we are dead against any kind of collaborative arrangement with the Middle and the Good World. Such alliances never last as your Historian here, Pansy can testify. The Dark World always gets the raw deal, despite having the maximum members. With his charm, Ander has been able to convince us to try out this approach cautiously, however cynical we feel. In return for such a feeble arrangement, we want one of 2 things: A Veto Power with our 30% representation or 55% representation on the Board where the majority required for a decision is 70%. Unlike Ander, we don't believe in dilly-dally. You either give us what we want or we resort to our bag of dirty tricks to help ourselves. You won't like the latter, so we advise you to take this decision and communicate it through Natalie soon. Our trick against Molly and Harry pale in comparison to the Manipulations we have executed earlier. Suffice it to say, Voldemort was one of our brighter trainees. We released Molly because she is useless. At the same time, we have the means to physically, mentally, emotionally, financially and spiritually break each of you here. Hermione, no one before you has offered peace. You are the weakest leader and we will turn your life into the worst misery if we don't have it our way."

As others shifted restlessly, it was only Hermione, Athena and Arthur who were calm. Hermione's one look at Harry was enough to settle everyone down.

However it was Arthur who replied, "My mentee is not weak. Her heart is golden. She has higher ideals and she has the courage to try out her choices. She offers them to everybody, irrespective of their background. She is strong in her faith because she has infinite strength within her own self. She is so confident that, despite all your threats, she has not reminded you that both of you are wand-less in our territory. Leave aside Hermione, Athena, Adena, The Order or her core team. Hermione's greatest fan Veena, has enough advanced spells in her to make the rest of your life miserable. However, she is simply being a gracious host to her greatest painful nemesis. That is her grace and good heart, not her weakness. I, on the other hand, am at the very edge of my patience. Similar to Jack, at this stage of my life, I have nothing much to lose. You insult her one more time and I will ensure that you are miserable for the rest of your life. After that, I won't bother who comes after me or kills me."

Arthur's eyes were literally burning embers. Molly and Hermione gave him a warning look and he calmed down. The guests also calmed down, realizing their vulnerability.

Hermione looked at the stout man kindly, "I agree with you that The Dark World has always gotten raw deals, both in Muggle and Wizard worlds. Even Mythology, both Wizard and Muggle, point out the same things. I don't need to confirm with Pansy. I complete my research well before I meet someone. In Wizard History, Dark World got the worst deals and deception in 79 AD, 1680 AD and again 1946 AD. However, every effect has a cause. Before each of these deals, The Dark World purely displayed brawn and intimidation, just like you are doing now. Middle World and Good World have more intelligent members as compared to the Brawn heavy Dark World. Even more unfortunate is the fact that even for the highly intelligent Dark World loyalists such as Natalie, their voices of reason and superior strategy are drowned out as weaknesses, without appreciating their long term vision and highest level intellect."

The Taller man looked at his partner and smiled, "Now we see why Ander and the minority in our group admire you so much. You have intelligence, inner beauty and kindness in an irresistible admixture. On a strictly personal level, we can ensure you that No Dark World member will attack your person, now and anytime in the future. At the same time, you must understand the reason that our primary strategy is always, intimidation. We are the final safety net for the oppressed, humanity and biodiversity. If we don't put forth our point forcefully, the entire world will be eliminated. Natalie already knows that we are in the midst of the 6th Mass extinction and this one is fully man made (Muggles and some greasy Wizards). Inequality of society is reaching a point that 60% don't have safety nets to cover basic needs and 1% of the World has 37% of the World Resources. If we don't intimidate Muggle and Wizard Governments, Tanks and Defense Industry prospers but Education, Health, Food and most of the other industries perish. Someone must take a stand. Why do you think we have the highest members? It is because only the Dark World offers the basic necessities on a daily basis to all it's members, irrespective of Rank. Socialism tried this but failed because of Rigid Control and Corruption. Every member who joins the Dark Side are assured of all the 9 Basic needs before further resources are allocated as per rank. I am not saying that we are Robin Hoods. Egoism amongst our ranks have corrupted us as well. However you need to see the genesis of why we exist and grow in the first place."

Hermione gave her kindest smile and replied, "Well said. It just proves my point that all of us have stories and all of us are truly correct as per our Model of the World. At this time, we can't commit to meeting any of the additional demands before a thorough discussion among us and with the Good and Middle World Board. We need a week to send a reply. At this time, we will take your leave. 2 miles from our outer perimeter, our Security Forces will give your wands back."

Hermione and her group bowed to the Guests before heading back to the Manor. They absorbed the fact that many challenges would come up before a win-win peace deal but they had to keep faith in themselves and execute their plans step by step, starting with Lucius Malfoy. That night however, their only plans were to feast and celebrate Molly's return.