A/N: Liverpool have just won their first cup of four. Mine is a very happy household right now. Hopefully this will give a bit of cheer to everyone else.

-0-

Despite their need for a rest, the holidays had almost stood still for a whole and now, it seemed to speed up beyond what Hermione was capable of controlling. They had been back to Hogwarts every day since Lucia and Amalle had picked out their home. Minerva was there now with Amalle as they tried to find the riches that they had buried before leaving their time.

"We have a saying in our time that goes something like 'a flagon for your thoughts'," Lucia offered as Hermione looked up.

"I would say a penny for them," Hermione smiled. "I don't know whether Min would say knut -" Lucia's face made her elaborate. "Both our smallest unit of currency; penny mine, knut, wizarding."

"That makes sense," Lucia smiled. "Little one, I wonder if Amalle and I might go to Hogwarts after we meet this dragon?"

"Of course," Hermione shrugged. "Whenever you want to."

"I think it will be better for a Minerva if we go soon."

"She's fine."

Hermione dismissed it because Minerva was, after the initial misgivings, settling into living with the both of them nicely. But Lucia's face suggested otherwise.

"I do not know whether it is a product of us being here but I am noticing something beginning and I believe I might need time to discover it for myself without concerning her."

Hermione sat up and looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

"I recall so long ago that you said your magic was almost intuitive?"

"Yes," Hermione nodded. "Well, it has been since this started. I have noticed that I no longer need to be specific in my casting, nor really even mean a particular spell if I do perform magic. I honestly don't know when the last time I truly used my wand was, though I still carry it everywhere."

"I wonder if I do not feel the same beginning."

Hermione really did sit up then. She watched as Lucia seemed to feel her fingertips and Hermione vaguely recalled doing the same when she was a child and had just had her first instance of accidental magic.

"What happened?"

"Nothing so serious," Lucia winced. "My cup being summoned into my hand, more light when I needed it."

"Good to know," Hermione chuckled. "I think you are right though; Min will be more uncomfortable with this news than I am but not because it is you, necessarily. Magic is not usually something that develops late, so the unknown would be the reason there."

"I do not know that I like it."

"I can say," Hermione smiled. "That you should not be scared of it. Don't force yourself against it. That, I believe, would not be good." They heard the crack of Apparition outside and Hermione reached over and squeezed Lucia's hand. The woman let out a long breath and nodded. "It'll be okay."

"I am also a little uncomfortable with the idea of meeting a monster."

"Not a monster," Hermione grinned as the other two came in. "Dragons are very intelligent, as it turns out. This one picked up our speech in barely a few moments of speaking to her."

"We come bearing gifts," Minerva exclaimed as they walked in. She waved her wand and a large chest floated in from outside and dropped with a thunk on the floor.

"Golly!"

"It is all ours," Amalle muttered. "We did not take anything that was not ours "

"I wouldn't have thought you would," Hermione soothed. "Is it all okay?"

"Yes," they sighed. "Everything is intact."

"That is something we'll have to do soon," Minerva rubbed her forehead and Hermione's eyebrow arches at the age-old habit making a reappearance. "I do not relish the idea of going to Gringotts."

"That isn't something we need to worry about for now. While you are here, we will provide anything you might need and where we end, Hogwarts begins. It will be alright, if we delay."

"Ever the voice of reason, Leannan," Minerva sighed.

"You're tired," Hermione said softly as she took the pair in. "Did you have to dig it out by hand?"

"Not quite," Minerva chuckled as she sat. "But it was quite arduous. Apparently in terms of soil, their timeline is rather a long time ago. I only hope Hagrid will forgive us the disturbance to the grounds."

Hermione smiled and got up. She pushed Amalle into a chair and started on some tea. She sent over a pitcher of water for the two while the kettle boiled and while they stood, a silence descended over the table.

Contrary to how it had been, this one seemed to settle them all and almost in sync, they all sighed.

"That was odd," Minerva said as she made a face.

"Perhaps just all settling in," Hermione soothed and she stood behind her love. She squeezed Minerva's shoulders and felt her whole body relax. With the dragon scheduled to be met tomorrow, Hermione was already making plans in her head to give Minerva a proper rub down.

Don't tease me so, leannan.

I would never.

Hermione leaned down and kissed behind Minerva's ear. She just nipped at the skin a little to show her how serious she was and made Minerva jump. The skin she had kissed went quite red as she looked around with a frown.

"Sorry," Hermione grinned. Kinda.

Minerva rolled her eyes and Hermione was spared any other chastisement by the kettle boiling. She poured the tea and took it to the table.

"So," she said after they all sat back. "Tomorrow, dragon, then Lucia and Amalle are going to go to Hogwarts. I think Michael can tell the others, save us a trip." She smiled at the worried look Lucia gave her. "And then perhaps you and I could go and see about getting me some robes and looking in on Molly's and then maybe we could take a sneaky trip down Knockturn Alley and see if we can't find the locket?"

"Hermione -"

"Ooh," Hermione joked to the others. "That's how you know I'm in trouble."

Even Amalle laughed and she apologised to Minerva with a soft smile.

"I am not saying I'm going there no matter what, I'm simply offering a list of things I know we need to get done and knocking it all out in one go might be rather useful."

"I think based on what Albus said, we should perhaps let the locket come to us, and go after the others."

"But if we're down there anyway," Hermione said innocently.

"I'm not convinced it is safe enough to be down there, my love," Minerva said with a warning in her tone.

"Alright, alright," Hermione gave in, feeling just a little bit of trepidation from her love.

She drained her tea and squeezed Amalle's shoulder as she got up.

"I might wander down to the beach for a while. I'm feeling a bit cooped up and there's a bit of space at the end of it that I'd like to explore."

"Darling -" Minerva groaned.

"I'll be fine! I'm not asking you to come with me, you're tired. Just be chill, okay?" Minerva's eyebrow showed her displeasure and Hermione leaned over to kiss her. "Just relax. I'm only going for a walk. It'll be fine."

Minerva sighed deeply and shrugged.

"Fine."

"Thank you," Hermione whispered as she kissed her again. "Why don't you read or something. Tomorrow might be a big one."

"Leannan," Minerva warned as she walked away.

"Yes, mo gaol?"

"Be careful."

"Always, lover."

-0-

The truth was that she hadn't really wanted a walk. She didn't need the time alone and she didn't particularly have anything she needed to look at but she wanted to give Lucia and Minerva some time together without her there. So far she'd been playing as a buffer between them and it was working, but it was time for Minerva to relax into it.

She pulled her coat collar around her neck and shoved her hands deeper into her pockets. Despite her inherited warmth, the wind coming off the ocean, coupled with the salty spray was frigid. She wasn't really paying attention to what she was doing when she rounded the point just beyond the end of what she had affectionately termed their beach and gasped at the raw energy from the open see crashing onto the westerly facing beach. There were a few seaweed covered rocks between that and where she was and she was in two minds as to whether she could cross it without breaking her neck. She stepped up onto one and tested her footing and decided just to go for it. There was a bit of a dicey moment where her foot fell into one of the rock pools and she winced at the temperature before she managed to scamper over the rest before a large wave threatened to drench her completely.

She stood just beyond the waves' reach and shook out her shoe. She glanced up and down the beach and then waved her hand over the soggy foot. She sighed as it dried. There seemed to be a bit of an outcrop of rock down the way, at the base of the cliffs she was butted up against and she decided that she would explore that before turning for home. As she walked down the new beach, she giggled to herself as she danced out of the way. Over and over the waves seemed to throw themselves up towards the cliffs to try and drench her, but she was definitely quicker afoot. It wasn't until she was almost there that one such wave managed to get her.

Just as it reached her, she paused and set her feet. The wave of magic that overcame her was immense and she looked around immediately trying to find the threat. It soon became apparent as a woman with long, stringy hair stood at the water's edge.

"Come in," she smiled.

"That will not work with me," Hermione said gently. "I am not one of them."

The woman bared her teeth and hissed.

"You are a Selkie?"

The woman paused with a frown. When she spoke, it sounded as if it was far away but Hermione could hear it well enough.

"You know of my kind?"

"I do," Hermione nodded. "I have studied all the mythical, magical creatures that live in our world."

"How -"

"I have magic," she explained. "One of many."

The Selkie hissed again and took a hurried step back.

"I will not hurt you," Hermione called. "I swear it."

The woman paused again and studied Hermione as she stood still with her arms out to show she meant no harm. There was a weighted moment while the woman considered her options.

"What do you want?"

"You stopped me," Hermione chuckled. "I don't want anything, except, perhaps while I have you. To warn you that there is a war coming between magical peoples and if we could perhaps ask if you would help us, if need be?"

"We have never fought for or against humans."

"These humans are not the same. They seek to enslave all creatures - they believe they are superior because they have magic." The Selkie hissed again. "They do not know what I know; that they will never be as you are, as dragons are." She paused and ignited her hand. "As I am."

The Selkie blinked and looked at her with wide eyes.

"You are an Old One!"

"I have been called that, yes. Draconvir, my people are called. I do not know if it means anything to you, but I am First."

The Selkie made a face and then very carefully bowed her head.

"If you ask it of me, I will take your request to my Elders."

"I would ask. I do not know when we might need you, but I feel as though you will know. If it is not convenient for you, I will not hold you to my request; please believe me when I say that."

The Selkie spent a little while longer looking at her carefully before a rather large wave crashed on top of her and she disappeared. Hermione lagged and decided she'd had enough excitement for one day. Throwing caution to the wind, she turned and took a deep breath. She stepped forward and landed smoothly next to the tree opposite the house. She shook herself off and made her way home.

"Are you okay?"

Hermione grinned as she shook off her coat at the door and hung it up. She toed off her boot and tried to make some semblance of order with her hair and gave up as Minerva repeated her question.

"I am," she said with another laugh. "I met a Selkie."

"WHAT!"

"Let me sit down and maybe you can make me a cuppa?"

"Leannan, what do you mean you met a Selkie?"

"Exactly that," Hermione confirmed. "Are you putting the kettle on?"

Minerva stared at her and Hermione decided just to do it herself. She steered Minerva to the table and put the kettle to boil before sitting in front of Minerva and taking her hands. The relief she seemed to feel was visible and without saying a word, flipped her grip and pulled Hermione to her.

"Oh, I see," Hermione teased as she got up and did as Minerva wanted. She straddled the woman's lap and let her weight down gently, until Minerva made a noise of protest and nudged her knee so she no longer had that control. She giggled as she landed on Minerva and heard the little huff she gave at the added weight. "Listen," Hermione said softly as she slid her fingers into Minerva's hair and messed it up with her grip. "I am fine, I am not hurt and I learned something we didn't know before."

"Leannan," Minerva whispered. Her hands gripped Hermione's sides and she reached down to cover them.

"Breathe," Hermione asked gently. "I am fine."

"A Selkie -" Minerva shuddered. "I felt something, but I didn't know what it was. I should have -" She shook her head. "What if she had -"

"What, stolen me?" Hermione teased. "You think I'd leave you?" Minerva pulled her close and buried her face into Hermione's neck. "Do you? You think someone could ever take me away from you?"

"No," Minerva muttered as she sank her teeth into Hermione's shoulder.

"Then why are you worried?" Hermione asked a little breathlessly.

"Because I wasn't there," Minerva shuddered. "And I wasn't aware."

"You would have been more aware, had I been in danger," Hermione soothed. "I believe that with all my heart. Because, my love. You are just like me, nobody is ever going to hurt your love if you have anything to say about it, right?"

"You'd best believe it," Minerva said fiercely.

"I do love it when your accent makes an appearance."

Minerva snorted and the tension left her shoulders.

"Kiss me?"

"Oh, Leannan," Minerva whispered, almost pained as she cupped her cheek. "For the rest of our lives, if you'll let me."

Hermione certainly did and they settled against each other while the kettle screamed for attention.

"Garris," Lucia huffed as she came in and took the kettle off the heat. "Honestly." [Nonsense,]

"We were busy," Hermione grinned. "I would have got it eventually."

"Before or after we were driven mad?" Lucia teased. "Let me try my hand at this."

Hermione grinned and kissed Minerva again, ignoring the tiny push against her hips at doing so in front of Lucia.

Leannan, Minerva hissed in their head.

If she's looking, let her look. If she isn't, what does it matter?

Hermione slid her tongue against Minerva's lips and sighed as Minerva allowed her to do so. She smiled against Minerva's lips and pecked her again and again before she sat back.

"Alright, alright," she giggled as she found her feet again. "I'll behave."

Lucia snorted in much the same way Minerva did and they sat at the table with their tea and sighed.

"I take it something happened?" Lucia said innocently as Amalle joined them.

"I met a Selkie," Hermione exclaimed.

The explanation of what one was and what they did usually took most of the afternoon while they explored the idea.

"So," Amalle said quietly as they fiddled with the handle of the mug. "What if they are making their appearance because you are here."

Hermione paused in that and looked at them.

"I hadn't had that thought."

She really hadn't. She considered the idea and thought about all that had happened since she'd come into her inheritance. Between the dragon and the Selkie, she could only imagine what was still to come. If they could unite the magical creatures that had lived outside the work of Wizarding people, she rather thought that might the best thing for their world.

For now, they would begin with tomorrow when they would meet the dragon and perhaps they would also get some answers from her as they had the chance to talk. They continued to talk sporadically to Feedle now and then; so far the elflings had not done anything untoward but they also hadn't seen much of them either. Getting the elves on their side was one thing but getting the dragons would be a coup that Voldemort himself could not even begin to imagine.