Authors' Note: I promise these notes will not become a regular thing. However I felt I should inform you, I had to refine a paragraph in chapter 17 just a tiny bit. In chapter 17 in a narrative paragraph it originally stated Draco knew about woman's anatomy because of his Aunt conceiving Voldemort's child, but he didn't witness the birth. I had to change that so he did witness with that, as such a detail is significant in upcoming chapters. As far as canon goes, we only have estimates on when conception and exact date of birth happened for that child. So, I worked with logic and canon info to make it highly plausible that Draco would have been around for such an event. Thanks for reading! This will all make sense very soon. Now onto the good stuff!
Chapter 22
Making good on Professor Nicholas Flamel's verbal recommendation as well as obtaining a letter of recommendation from him, Draco went on to study at the Alchemy Centre in Egypt. For five years, Draco studied many branches of Alchemy. The four elements, the transmutation of substances; it is thus intimately connected with potion-making, chemistry, astronomy, philosophy, transformation magic, even dabbled in Spagyric or 'plant alchemy'.
He mastered the skill of brewing a universal solvent. A once hypothetical substance that has the ability to dissolve any material. Its true success was one of the best known goals of many alchemists for decades. His skill to brew it successfully, to be effective every time no matter what material it was put on was astounding. Making him the best to make potions for Curse-Breakers and Ancient Runes Translators to use all over the world, while searching ancient ruins.
"Malfoy, can you take an order to the city of Tanis and stay overnight per request of the Curse-Breaker?" An administrator at the Centre inquired as Draco finished sealing the last of a universal solvent batch. Tanis was relatively unknown among muggle archeologists. Tanis's royal tombs have yielded artifacts on par with the treasures of Tutankhamen.
Draco gave the man a look of disinterest. "What? All of our interns are done with their internships. We are in progress of reviewing who we want to offer jobs to. Besides, you spend way too much time indoors." The man commented. He was older, in his fifties, though still lively with this light brown hair, mustache, and European accent.
Draco took the order form from him and began to pack the order in an enchanted box that kept all potions from spilling even if the box was turned about or damaged. "It's not my fault I'm indoors most of the day. Nobody can brew the universal solvent correctly besides me. I'll deliver the order to Tanis and stay overnight. I just finished a batch that will be adequate amount for the other Alchemy Centre orders from their Curse-Breakers and ours or a week." He stated, checking the order form once more to make sure he got all the potions requested before he left the Centre. The order form had the Curse-Breakers initials on it H. G., the words 'overnight Alchemist consultation' with a meeting place, date, and time. Other than that he didn't know which curse break had placed the extensive order or required a consultation. Grabbing his own 'overnight' bag from the foot of the desk he asked, "When am I getting my own office?"
The older man laughed, "You don't need one yet. You are too busy making universal solvent potion for everyone worldwide to justify one." Draco grumbled and headed out of the Centre. As soon as he was off the grounds and into the blazing sunlight he apparated to the ancient runes of Tanis.
Hermione busied herself for a full year with tracking down her parents and practicing the spells required to bring back their memories. She went home with Ginny to the Weasley Burrow and practiced covering and uncovering memories from a reluctant Ronald, who felt that he owed it to her for not writing more often. "I'm glad you figured out how, but who taught you this?" He asked, concerned about his well being.
"Actually, Draco Malfoy taught me. He's really lightened up. I really think that he and we all could have been friends all along had it not been for his father and Voldemort being bad fellows." Hermione explained.
"Hermione, there is no magic powerful enough to get Malfoy and us on even good terms." Ron tried to reason with her. "I am just saying, there might be a universe in which it could happen. I am not saying it is this one." She retorted and the discussion was closed.
After what she felt was thorough practice without damaging Ron in the least, she finally decided that it was time for the real deal. She traveled to Australia and made her way to the address of her parents' new dental practice. She walked in to 'make an appointment and consultation about finances.' She cast a bedazzling charm on the office to make it look closed. She was alone with her parents at long last. Once she knew she had the opportunity to do so, she snuck a powerful sleeping potion into their teas during the consultation. When they both were unconscious, she sat them comfortably in the sitting room and went to work undoing the obliviate spell and false memory charms she did to them previously, just as she had practiced.
It took a lot of careful effort to uncover the hidden memories, much harder work than the practice runs she did on Ron. But in the end she succeeded.
She gave them the antidote to the sleeping potion and they slowly woke up. "Huh…Hermione? What happened?" Her father asked, groggy as expected. Her mother also came to, "Sweetie, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
Hermione practically tackled them both in a tearful hug. "Mum! Dad! I'm so glad you're okay!" After she calmed down, she explained to them all what happened. Although she left out the fact that she took their memories away without knowing a for sure way of reversing what she did. It took her all evening, mostly because she had to explain minor details, but they finally understood what happened.
"We are so proud of you Hermione and glad you are safe." They said, embracing her once more. "You're not cross with me?" she asked sheepishly. "Of course not. You did what you thought was the best given the situation. We couldn't have asked for more from our daughter."
A few months later, the Granger's and their dental practice moved back to their old home in England. Hermione didn't move back in to her family home, however. Instead she made herself a comfortable studio apartment in the shed behind her parents home with a bit of transfiguration.
It scared her parents the first time they saw that the inside was much bigger than the tiny utility shed on the outside. She explained that it was only temporary, until she found employment. She explained briefly about the Curse-Breaker job for Gringotts.
4 years later . . .
Her first solo assignment! She'd been looking forward to this for months. Hermione had been a ancient runes translator for a year, then was under Bill Weasley's tutorage for three years after that. Now she was given her first solo assignment per recommendation by the head of Gringotts Curse-Breaker department. Not only was she being sent to the city of Tanis in Egypt, but it may be the biggest find of the decade, if not the century!
There in Tanis, someone came across a newly discovered room where runes described the location of the greatest alchemist of ancient history: Dev Hoenheim. Hermione was sent primarily for her competence in both translating and curse-breaking, but also her problem solving. She'd helped Bill out of many conundrums that involved riddles set in place by the curse's creators.
More often than not, curses were set in place to protect something of value to its creator. Of course, the curses were also created during the lifetime of the creator, so they were often given loopholes that only the creator would know. However, with time and libraries of information on her side, Hermione would often be able to easily and safely bypass these curses. Until now.
The curse set by Dev Hoenheim was far more complicated than any she'd seen before. It had taken her an unprecedented amount of time to figure out how to solve the riddles set before her and her superiors at Gringotts were becoming impatient for the treasures that surely were held within such a heavily guarded tomb. It was nothing short of a stroke of luck that she found the last living descendant of Dev Hoenheim with a family heirloom, passed down through generations. This artifact just so happened to be the key to Dev Hoenheim's legacy. The only caveat was that it required alchemic understanding and potions. Something Hermione was not very well versed in. She did know where to find that information though. With a simple letter to Hogwarts' alchemy professor, she was happily given a extensive list of potions needed to open the 'lock' hiding away Hoenheim's legacy. However, professor Flamel also wrote to her that it would be best to gain the expertise of someone well versed in Alchemy, who could accompany her on this task. So she sent the list to the Alchemy Centre in Egypt and requested an alchemist to stay overnight for a consultation.
Despite the heat of Egypt, Draco still wore a black suit and tie. If he was making a batch of universal solvent, he wore a green robe to prevent stains upon his tailored suits. If he wasn't potion making or presiding over the other alchemists, he was attending to administrative duties over the Alchemy Centre. Thus he relied on maintaining a professional appearance at any give time.
Coming out of his apparition, the heat was uncomfortable. Perhaps he really did spend too much time inside he thought as he loosened the tie just a bit. The surface of the ruins looked insignificant. Just a bunch of rumble with barely any legible marks upon the two foot tall stone structures that remained. After being disregarded for centuries, some Curse-Breaker had poked and prodded enough to discover these ruins were meant to appear insignificant upon first sight. The underground was extensive, cursed, and so far had many rune messages that involved an alchemist, Dev Hoenheim.
It had been big news at the Centre. Draco researched about the alchemist and found him to be the original alchemist to discover/creator to the universal solvent potion. Making him one of the most important alchemists ever. Nicholas Flamel being the first, because he created the Philosopher's Stone and Elixir of Life.
With the box of potions under one arm he pulled out the order form to check the time of the meet up. He was a few minutes early still. The sound of someone apparating in arrival reaching his ears a moment later.
"It is not every day you see someone wearing a suit in the hot desert." Hermione stated, with a chuckle as she came out of her apparition to the meeting place she designated for her potions order and Alchemist consultation. She was cloaked in loose, white robes underneath a cloak made out of Graphorn hide. Her head was completely shrouded, save for her chocolate-brown eyes, by a red and yellow scarf. She extended her hand to formally greet the Alchemist when she realized who he was. "Well if it isn't Draco Malfoy. It's been a while. Let's get out of the sun, shall we?" She suggested and withdrew her hand from its initial offer of a handshake so she could withdraw her wand. She conjured a tent just big enough for a person to bend down and walk into.
When the Curse-Breaker arrived a familiar female voice commented on his attire. She certainly was dressed in the typical clothing modern Egyptians found most comfortable. Loose fit white robes, with a violet Graphorn hide cloak. Useful for repelling most spells and was tougher than dragon scales. The horn was a highly prized potion ingredient, used in potions like the Antidote to Uncommon Poisons. He could only see her eyes; the rest of her head was covered by a crimson and gold scarf. But it was enough to see her pleasantly surprised expression when she saw his face and recognized him.
"I like to maintain a certain appearance of professionalism, Granger." He spoke as she withdrew her hand and procured her wand, offering some shade. "A simple 'nice to see you' would have been sufficient, but the shade is appreciated." He quipped as they stepped under the small canopy. Once inside he said, "You are the Curse-Breaker assigned to the Tanis ruins; you must be doing very well indeed. I was expecting Gringotts to send a more experienced Curse-Breaker when I saw the location on the order form." He commented, the statement carefully carrying a compliment to her success to have been assigned the greatest discovery of the century.
Hermione took off the scarf and cloak, setting them on a chair in the corner of the now large interior of the tent. Her signature fluffy bush of hair amplified by the arid climate was somewhat tamed in a loose ponytail. "Well I guess I am just special, aren't I?" she teased, remembering the statement by Draco from the last time she spoke to him. Not waiting for a response she continued, "Actually, my supervisors were hoping to keep this operation quiet, but it seems word travels quickly." She stated, her eyes drifting to the crate Draco had brought with him. "So, you brought the alchemy potions I requested?" She asked.