CHAPTER TWENTY

Summary: Sent to Volterra in order to negotiate terms of an alliance to end the war, Hermione's life is turned upside down as she is brought into the world of the Volturi, better known as the Vampire Kings. There she is made a part of a new kind of family and a most trusted member of the guard, whether she likes it or not, and surprisingly, she does. Rated M for language, violence and sexual content.

Disclaimer: I do not own canon events and characters, they belong to J.K Rowling and Stepenie Myers. I am not making a profit from writing and posting this fanfic. As for the descriptions of appearances for the Twilight characters, all my research is based on the books and not the movies, but I may have changed a few things regarding Alec's height and age.

Page count: 6

Saturday 16th May 1998

The next week flew by for Hermione as she was always kept busy. If she wasn't with Teddy in her bedroom, she was attending the funerals of the fallen and there were a lot of them. Hermione had seen enough pain, death and suffering to last her several lifetimes.

She didn't leave her room much to interact with the others since the Weasleys were still at the cottage as the Burrow was being repaired and Hermione didn't have the heart to tell them to leave. When it came to mealtimes, Hermione still ate in her room as she was trying to keep Teddy away from Mrs. Weasley, only it wasn't Alec and Demetri that brought her meals to her, it was usually Harry, Ron, the twins or Ginny.

Since Alec and Demetri were mostly away from the cottage, tracking down the fugitive Death Eaters and followers and she was feeling as though she had more control over herself due to the enacting of the old rights, she had allowed the Weasley siblings to sit in her room with her, but it was more so Harry and Ron.

Harry would sit next to her on the bed, watching as Teddy wriggled in her arms and she'd convinced him to hold him once or twice, much to his utter panic. Ron would sit beside the bed in a chair, and although it was clear he had some resentment for her shutting them both out the previous week, he seemed to be slowly letting it go and was returning to his normal self; making stupid comments that amused both Hermione and Harry, embarrassing himself and laughing at Harry's panicked expression when he held Teddy. That was, until, Hermione turned the tables and had Ron hold Teddy, in which Harry would laugh at Ron's red face and wide eyes.

Sometimes they spoke about those they lost, sometimes they laughed until they couldn't breathe, remembering the embarrassing times of Hogwarts, and sometimes they recalled fondly their happiest memories over the years, and sadly some of their worst. Other times they sat in silence as words didn't need to be said. They were friends and they always would be, no matter what life threw their way. They weren't 'the Golden Trio' for nothing.

Everyone knew that although Hermione was better than before, she still had a long way to go. She often still sat in silence, being unresponsive when someone spoke to her, as if she didn't even realise they were there. She cried when she thought of her parents, of Remus, Tonks and Andromeda. She confined herself to her room, as if she didn't want to walk through the rooms of the cottage as it once belonged to Remus and Tonks, but now they were gone. She would spend minutes at a time, just staring off into the distance or watching Teddy, as if she were expecting someone to barge through the door and take him away from her. And she shied away from the touch of others, only allowing Alec and Demetri to touch her, as well as Harry, and sometimes Ron and Ginny.

But despite all of this, she was getting better and soon they would have Hermione back. But that didn't really matter, as it was now the day before she was to leave for Volterra for the rest of her life and she hadn't broken the news to anyone but Kingsley when he came by for a visit the previous day.

As expected, Kingsley hadn't reacted well to the news and after thirty minutes of mutterings and pacing back and forth and Hermione crying, he had finally calmed down enough to propose a possible solution. Hermione informed him that there was no possible solution, since the binding contract was a written form of the Unbreakable Vow.

After ten minutes of his cursing and pacing back and forth, Hermione told him that even if they were able to break the contract, she wouldn't want them to. She wanted a fresh start for herself and Teddy, and although it would take her away from everyone, she knew deep inside of her, that going to Volterra was what she needed to do.

She didn't know why but she knew it was where she needed to be and any possible chance of happiness could only be found there. He, of course, wasn't pleased, but he promised to support her decision and he reminded her that she had to tell everyone; she couldn't just disappear as it would result in a nationwide search for her.

Despite Kingsley having a lot of pressure on him as he was the interim Minister of Magic and he was busy cleaning up the Ministry, he would help get everything in order before she left and she was thankful for him. She only wished he had kept his mouth shut. He hadn't told Harry and Ron, or the others for that matter, but he had told Professor McGonagall, and that was how she found herself, on Saturday morning, sat in the Headmistress' Office at Hogwarts.

Hermione shifted in her seat on the couch, Teddy was in her arms sleeping peacefully and McGonagall sat opposite her, her gaze solely on Hermione, as were all the portraits of the previous headmasters and headmistresses.

Hermione, having been sat in silence for some time, summoned her Gryffindor courage.

"Professor, why am I here?"

McGonagall's eyes swept over Hermione's figure, seeing that whilst she appeared to have put on some weight and she was healed from her injuries, she looked exhausted. Emotionally, physically and mentally.

"Kingsley has informed me of the deal you made with the Volturi," she started calmly and Hermione felt herself stiffen. "I am not judging you, desperate times call for desperate measures and your actions were monumental in the defeat of Voldemort's army. And up to this point, the guards that were sent..."

"Alec and Demetri," Hermione interrupted, not liking that McGonagall refused to address them by their names as if they were some nameless object.

"Alec and Demetri," she corrected, watching Hermione carefully, as though she were expecting something explosive to happen. "Have been aiding in capturing those that escaped, and it is to my understanding that out of the forty-nine that were identified, thirty-four of those have been detained and within as little as a week."

A smile pulled at Hermione's mouth. "Yes, they are rather remarkable," Hermione commented fondly. "But I still don't understand why I am here."

"Am I correct in saying that you want to return to Volterra, even if an answer to breaking the binding contract could be found?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Truthfully?" Hermione checked and McGonagall nodded. "I'm not quite sure, even if the contract was null and void, I've come to the realisation that I would still return with Alec and Demetri. I need a fresh start and after everything that's happened, I need time to be alone. I need to get away from England so that I can grieve in my own time and in my own way. And Italy is a good as place as any."

"But why Volterra specifically?" She pressed.

"I didn't have much of a chance to see Volterra when I was there, but from the little I did see, it's a beautiful city, rich with knowledge and history and culture. And I find myself wishing to be there. I cannot explain why but I have a feeling that if I go to Volterra everything I am looking for, everything I want or need, can easily be found there. I know it's going to be difficult to adjust, particularly living with a coven of vampires, but I feel I must do this."

"And what of Teddy?"

"He will be coming with me," she stated as if the answer should've been obvious. "Aro Volturi seemed adamant that I return and I don't know why. And although that knowledge should worry me, I can't find it within myself to care. During the time of negotiation when we were discussing my return, we compromised on stipulations that would suit us both."

"And they are?"

"I am to return within two weeks of the battle ending, meaning I am to leave tomorrow. I am able to visit England four times a year, the Volturi will purchase all materials such as books and potion ingredients, and they will fund any independent research I conduct, and I am allowed to bring Crookshanks."

"And what will they say about Teddy?"

"Whatever they like, I don't particularly care," she shrugged. "They will make an exception for him as they will understand that I would rather die than give him up. Alec and Demetri have both sworn to protect both myself and Teddy, they won't allow any harm to come to us from a member of their coven." McGonagall's eyes widened minutely at the revelation. "And the Volturi Kings will do the same, they will offer Teddy the protection they offered me, we're a package deal."

"And how do you expect to raise a child in that environment?"

"The same as any mother; with love, worry and support. Teddy will be raised to defend against prejudice as he will see that what is known about vampires, is not always correct. He will be financially supported and he'll have access to the best resources money can buy, both Magical and Muggle. Yes, it's dangerous and I don't dispute that but I need to do this."

"Molly will not approve," McGonagall warned her.

"Molly can shove her wooden spoon up her backside for all I care," she said unhappily. "Teddy is my responsibility and no one else's. I love him dearly, I will die for him and I will be anything he requires me to be. Molly has her own children to worry about, she's not getting mine, and as for her trying to break the binding magic between us, she's in for a rude awakening." McGonagall arched a questioning eyebrow told. "Remus, Tonks and Andy," she breathed out, tears beginning to form in her eyes at the mention of them, "Made me Teddy's guardian on their death beds and I know because Andy died in my arms." McGonagall made a noise of surprise, not having been aware. "After their funeral, I initiated the old rites." McGonagall choked on the lungful of air. "Nothing but death will take me away from Teddy, and even then, I'd still protect him and love him."

Silence rang in the room until McGonagall cleared her throat.

"You have to tell them."

Hermione sighed, shifting Teddy in her arms and leaning back into the cushions of the couch. "I know and I will. Is this all you wished to speak to me about, Professor?"

"No," she said, her eyes lifting to the portraits behind her and Hermione heard the whispers and mutters between them. "There is something I wish to discuss with you, something that will impact your future in ways I can't even begin to comprehend."

Hermione frowned at her words, getting a sinking feeling in her stomach.

"What is it?"

"Miss. Granger, what do you know of Sorcerers?"

That response was something Hermione had not expected.

"Not a lot, to be honest. They're said to be the most powerful wizards to exist. They possess a knowledge and understanding of magic that most can't and won't comprehend, and their magic is said to be instinctual."

McGonagall nodded. "The watered-down version, yes. Can you wager a guess when the last Sorcerer was said to have existed?"

"Merlin," she answered without hesitation.

"Merlin was indeed a well known Sorcerer, but he was not the last." Hermione's frown made a reappearance. "It is a well-hidden secret that there have been several Sorcerers over the millennia, Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin were also Sorcerers. And the most recent were Gellert Grindlewald, Albus Dumbledore and Tom Riddle."

Hermione made a sound of surprise in the back of her throat.

"Indeed," McGonagall nodded in agreement. "Sorcerers are very powerful wizards with the ability to rule the world should they wish it and it would be extremely hard to prevent that from happening, as we have witnessed with Tom Riddle. For this reason, the identities of known Sorcerers are kept hidden away deep within the Department of Mysteries, and only a few know of their true power. Magic is all but limitless for Sorcerers and for this reason, they are incredibly intelligent and for them, magic is effortless. But with so much raw power, there is always a negative impact."

"And that is?" Hermione nibbled at her lip thoughtfully.

"Darkness. Every Sorcerer will have darkness in them. Where there is light, there is also dark, and whilst there is also grey, too, the darkness is stronger than both. The darkness must be contained and if not, it results in those such as Tom Riddle and Gellert Grindlewald. They were unable to resist the temptation of the dark and for that, they were taken and they were destroyed, remade into something that was barely human, with no love or care for anyone or thing but power and destruction."

Hermione froze at her words. She had experienced something similar. The night she had willingly tortured Greyback she had felt the need to, she had felt something pushing her to do it and rather than fighting it, she gave in.

"Albus worked hard to contain the darkness within him but even he failed sometimes," McGonagall said sadly. "For each decision he made, he had a little angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other, and sometimes the devil won. His actions are the result of his battle with the darkness. The magic within a Sorcerer has to remain balanced, and for that reason, sometimes the darker side wins and sometimes the light wins, as long as one doesn't overpower the other, then all control will be kept, and it must be as a Sorcerer's power is raw and volatile."

"I appreciate you telling me this, Professor, but I still don't understand what this has to do with me."

"Miss. Granger, where there are Sorcerers there are Sorceresses to counterbalance the power between witches and wizards. Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff were Sorceresses. This is how and why the Founders were able to build Hogwarts; they were evenly matched in power and they were equals. It is unknown if any other continent other than Europe has been home to Sorcerers and Sorceresses, as it's kept secret to protect those involved, but it is likely, particularly in the Americas. Now, the last known Sorceresses were, in fact, Rowena and Helga."

"But you said where there's a Sorcerer there's a Sorceress," Hermione's brow furrowed and her head tipped to the side slightly.

"I did, yes."

"But you didn't mention there being a Sorceress when there's been three Sorcerers in the last few decades alone."

"That's true and it's an uncommon occurrence for there to be three Sorcerers within that time frame, particularly when there's only been six known in existence."

"And the reason for there not being a Sorceress to counterbalance the power?"

"She wasn't yet born, but she is here now and she is coming into her full potential."

"I'm not following," Hermione frowned, not liking the soft look on McGonagall's face, nor the soft tone she spoke the next words in.

"You, Hermione. You are the next Sorceress."