Bumps in the road.

He is in Kings landing… He is in Westeros.

Her soul mate, the man she had been dreaming about, was literally in an entirely different world… realms away...

She could hardly bring herself to believe it. Potter luck had stuck again, she supposed. This time it had struck particularly hard.

Aradia was still sort of shell-shocked state after she was thrown back into her body. She remained so for the next half hour or so. Laid out dazed in her bed, in a state of suspended disbelief…. Because she couldn't help but having trouble wrapped her head around it. It was shocking and jarring for her to even contemplate it...

Was it another reality? Different Plane of existence? Separate planet, but still in this universe?

It was easier when she thought she would just run into him while traveling to him during her holiday with Teddy... He seemed so far away to her now. Completely out of range, out of her grasp. Almost unreachable. Her mind started wrapping itself around that as her heart started to sink. She began to feel hopeless and lost. How was a person supposed to overcome that kind of situation? How was she supposed to go to him now?...

It was then that she noticed her ring starting to pulse and warm once again. In fact, it warmed so much she felt that soon it might start burning her skin soon if she wasn't careful….

That's when she remembered.

She was a Witch.

She had the bonding Ring.

She knew that Cassieopia and her daughters had traveled here; If not more people from the same place…

If there was a way for them to come here, it only made sense there had to be a way for her to return there. If there was ANYONE who was going to find a way, it was her.

Her first stop was the Magical district's bookstore. She found and purchased a book on bonding rings. She needed more information than 'They lead you to the person that you are supposed to be with.' and 'It might take you to them.' she'd ask Lucius, of course, but she felt she'd get more solid information from the book.

Her second stop was a bakery for fresh Cherry, Apple and Peach Danishes.

Her third stop was to the house the Malfoys were currently residing in... Hoping they would hear her out and be helpful. Maybe even willing to let her read any books, notes, or other writings Cassieopia might have left behind...

Aradia rocked Teddy, who was playing with a small stuffed Badger. The soft toy was gripped, released, then gripped again in his tiny little hand as he enjoyed the softness.

Aradia's eyes were moving back and forth from the infant to the faces of the two Malfoy adults. Draco was also watching them himself; his eyes locked on them and unblinking. Both holding their breath as Lucius and Narcissia whispered and mumbled under their breath. They were quiet enough that neither of the newer adults could hear them…

She adjusted the now 4-month-old, being sure to support his neck as she turned her eyes to Draco. Draco look back to her, and sensing the question she was about to ask, shrugged his shoulders preemptively.

They turned their attention back to the two as they continued talking among themselves. They had been discussing things for about 10 minutes at this point…

Draco and Aradia both waited with batted breath. after a few more moments, Lucius nodded to his wife, and Narcissa nodded back.

Both then looked forward as the teen's eyes widened with anticipation.

"Well…. It seems we have some work to do."

The only reason Aradia didn't shriek with joy was because she didn't want to startle the still-playing Teddy.

"…That being said, We had a very successful Training Day today. You should be proud of yourselves. If this keeps up, we may have to send our Bravosi friend back home early." A soft but hearty laugh sounded from gathered group of the men of the Red Guard.

"You are all dismissed. See you before your next shift."

This was the end of training session for the night watch. Aemond had made sure to space the training times out carefully. He wanted every member of the red guard to get as much of the specialized training in as quick as possible. He had blocked in such a way that it fit the schedules and shifts for all watches. That way they could all benefit, and no one would be left behind. Even Aemond himself trained with them, learning the same new things.

He was glad he was able to hire such a talented man from bravos. One who worked as the second sword of the last Sealord before his passing. Nico Deltoro. Dark hair, Dark eyes, Tanned olive-toned skin, but with bright teeth and smile. Nearing his 38th name day, still as spirted as any young man. He excelled in close quarters combat as well as protective and defensive fighting. But most importantly, Body guarding and Anti-assassination techniques.

Aemond didn't have to think too hard before hiring him. Fighting in an open field during war was one thing; But this was the red keep. Hallways, walkways, corridors, many multi-sized rooms from the great hall to ones as big as broom closets. That was the environment the red guard was going to be patrolling, protecting, and fighting in. Not open fields. So, he hired him on for month to help Polish and refine the red guard. The results were almost immediate.

The first thing the Second sword did was taking them all inside. To an abandoned hallway in the south wing of the keep. He then ordered them to pair up in two, face one another, and train as they normally did. The protests began almost immediately. 'There's no room!' 'How are we to swing our swords in here?' 'we're just as like to cut the person next to us as the person Infront of us.'

"That's the point, you fool. This is where you going to fight, no? You need to know HOW to fight here..." He said in his broken Common.

"No reckless swings and misses… Control your hit, what you hit, WHO you hit."

"Bracers are on your armor for purpose. Use arms to block and brace!"

"Watch who is behind you. Watch who is beside you. Watch who around you at all times."

"Never let blade cut you. Sword blade, dagger blade, no matter. Any blade could have poison on it. One cut, if poisoned, could kill. Always deflect, always brace and avoid. One cut could be last cut."

His hands-on style of training stuck with the red guard. under him they improved in leaps and bounds, picked up every skill Nico was teaching them.

Aemond couldn't help but smirk proudly at the departing men. He turned to look at Nico who was grinning proudly as well.

"Good work, good work… You stay for Spar, Prince?" Nico asked him with his grin and eyes shining. His hand reaching for his own sword before Aemond have even said yes or no. The man truly lived and breathed for the sword. And he really was one hell of a sparring partner.

"Sadly, not today. I have some work to do in my Solar before the sun goes down. But tomorrow. for sure, Ser Nico."

"Tomorrow then, Prince. Good day!"

"Good day."

Aemond was finishing the last of his replies to the letters that had come in. He sent off the messages delivered by Raven to whom they needed to go to already. Lord Beesbury and Lord Bar Aamon should have both resaved their correspondences by now.

The last letter he had to pen before heading to bed was from the Riverlands. Kermit Tully had grown ill and bedridden, and his son Elmo was acting warden of the Riverlands. Elmo was having a difficulty settling a dispute between the Brackens and the Blackwoods. AGAIN.

Another land dispute.

His reply was short and to the point. Elmo was now the acting warden. He had all the information he would need to check where the territories ended and began at his disposal. He'd need to look into it and settle the dispute himself. He worded it a fair bit more professionally, but there it was.

He finished putting his signature on the letter just as Otto Hightower walked through the door. Aemond eyes turned to him as soon as he walked in. For a moment Aemond was worried that he might have another workload for him. Since his grandsire was empty handed, with no papers or letters in his hand, he didn't believe that was the reason.

"Lord hand." Aemond greeted politely.

"Good eve, My Prince. I've just come to see how you were adjusting to your new solar..."

Otto stated as he immediately started looking around.

He seemed to nod in approval of the emblem of the seven hanging behind the desk as well as the one propped in the window. He didn't seem to be as approving of the Red and Black drapes, The Targaryen three-headed dragon behind the lounge chair or the rather large dragon-themed solar chair that Aemond was picked out for himself for behind his desk...

"Been adjusting well. The solar is in a good place: the Meisters and Red Guard can reach me quickly... I am considering adding a small table and chairs, for meals."

"That's a good idea. I can have a set sent up here by tomorrow." Otto said as continued looking around. Even taking a moment to observe an oil painting that was newly hung. A profile portrait of his mother, Queen Alicent.

"That would be apricated. I have a feeling I'll be taking a lot of meals here now..." Aemond responded, not really knowing how to take his grandsire's actions. His interest had been passing at best... Definity not this involved.

"That comes with the territory, I'm afraid... You'll find much more of your time taken up with your duties going forward. Eat wherever you can, Sleep whenever you can..." Otto commented off-handly as he kept nosing around the solar. "I'll have them send up two family crests as well. Have them mounted above the fireplace. One for our house, one for house Targaryen..."

Aemond blinked rapidly as his grandsire continued to assess his entire office. Top to Bottom, every corner. Aemond tried to make small talk with him, mostly on how Mother, Heleana, and the young ones were doing. During that time, while only half-listening, Otto decided that Aemond also needed a beverage bar. Along with an aged Whiskey, sweet Brandy, and a rare Plum wine from Ye-ti to go with it.

Aemond tried to hint it was getting late and he wished to depart soon, but that also went ignored. Otto instead decided the guest chairs were far to overstuffed. He'd have them replaced with smaller, firmer, Green-unholstered chairs. He'd order them to be made on the marrow. This back-and-forth continued for a few minutes more. Until Aemond's anger and annoyance started to hang about him like a heavy gray fog.

It appeared the Lord Hand wasn't leaving until he had looked over every inch of the office, and everything meet his approval... Aemond wondered if he would even recognize his own solar by the time his grandsire was done.

But what could he say about it?... Otto was the one who had given him the Solar to begin with... He only had it because of him. Still, he couldn't help the dragon fire that rose up from his chest and got stuck in his throat at the older man's actions.

Aemond became so invested in glaring at his grandsire and trying to get him to leave that he barely noticed he was looking over his desk... Until his grandsires eyes raised to him with a deep, hatful glare of his own. If it wasn't for the fact that Aemond have never been on the other end of that glare... Hell, he had only seen it less than a handful of times in his life... Aemond was almost sure he would of snapped at him. But it was so sudden and out of place, he honestly didn't know how to react. Otto pointed a cold to the right of his desk.

"What in the world is that?... Explain yourself..."

Aemond eyes went to where he was pointing. His lone eye went wide, and his blood went cold.

On the right side of his desk... stacked carefully on top of one another... Was his notes on his research into the Valyrian families and missing persons. The words on the top page?

Targaryen:

Rheanys

Saera

Gale

The dangers ahead.

Aemond looked upon to his grandsires abnormally angry face, as warning horns sounded in the back of his head. Of the many things the people of the realm could call him, an idiot was not one of them. Something about this felt WRONG.. Aemond felt the hairs on the back of his neck raise up, and he wasn't about to ignore it. His eyes narrowed at his grandsire as the surprise from his reaction wore off.

"Why?…" Was the only question Aemond asked coldly. Otto's face started to turn a bit red.

"What are doing here? Why those names? … What are you looking into?" Otto questioned, in rapid fire succession.

"You still haven't answered my question; Why do you need to know?" Aemond questioned in return, trying to buy more time as he quickly tried to think up a plausible cover story.

"Because I am the Hand of the King! And if you are using MY resources, for ANY reason, I get to know what you're using them for."

"I'm not using YOUR resources; I'm doing this with MY resources and on MY own time..." The resources you gave me and a few meisters, But Aemond didn't add that.

"THAT DOES NOT MATTER, give those to me!" Otto snapped and his now stormed Infront of the desk and went to grab the parchments. Aemond was quicker and closer, so he graceful slid them out of his reach and into his own hands.

This immediately set off an intense staring contest between Grandfather and Grandson. In the short term, Aemond had the advantage. He was quicker and currently in possession of the papers. In the long term, Otto had the advantage. He was the hand and had more influence and sway. If he really wanted those papers he would have them in a few days, at the very least… But luckily by this time, Aemond had come up with what he hoped was a convicting lie.

"… I've been researching the Targaryen family and making a timeline of their Lives. Particularity the children of the Velaryon and Targaryen marriages… Births rates, Deaths, Illnesses, Offspring, injuries… Putting together a timeline of sorts. But most importantly, who bonded with dragons and who did not."

The anger in Otto's face dropped a bit. His outstretched hand followed soon after, coming to rest by his side.

"… So you're trying to see if there is a pattern? Finding a link or connection to dragon riders? … A Common trait?"

"Yes…" Otto nodded his head in response. While he didn't look appeased, he no longer looked angry.

"Very well… You can finish whatever part you are working on now, but after that, you will hand your research and everything else you have over to Grand meister Mellos. He will take it from there…"

Aemond's eyes blazed with anger, and Otto disrespectfully cut him off. "He has better knowledge, is better educated, has better contacts, and much better research material. He will be able to go much Deeper than you can with this…"

Aemond snapped his jaw shut. He knew he wasn't going to follow those orders. He already had an idea in place to send a batch of complex false research to Mellos, so much so that he would be buried in it… Just to piss Otto off.

"Do it. I order you. Before the end of this weekend." Otto snapped, then turned heel and left the solar, a sense of purpose in his steps.

If he had bothered to look back, he would have noticed the new, hateful, completely distrusting look his grandson was giving him. Once the door closed, Aemond quickly grabbed the plain brown robe he always kept hanging on a hook off to the side and followed quietly behind him.

Otto stormed into Mello's laboratory without knocking or announcing himself. He looked greatly disturbed. Mellos; The shaven-headed dark-skinned grand meister only started a little, before going back to making his remedies.

"What seems to be the matter, Lord hand? You rarely grace my Lab… And never at this hour."

"The boy has been nosing around… Looking into the Targaryen bloodline."

"Which boy?… I'm sure it can't be that bad." The Mester replied as he carefuly stirred the pot full of herbs, oils, and other ingredients.

"Prince Aemond…" Otto replied. Mellos paused and looked at Otto with wide eyes and a worried expression.

"Oh…" was the only reply he got, before Mellos turned his attention back to his work.

"OH?! Is that all you can say? OH?.." Otto shouted as he stormed forward, smacking one of the glasses beakers into the wall with a swift backhand.

"… Yes, oh…" Was his calm reply as he looked to the splatter on the wall to the lord hand.

"That boy is smart… Far to smart. If he goes down this rabbit hole and starts making connections…"

"I'm sure he won't find much. As a far as the more… damning… turn of events are concerned, there is nothing to be found. Not anymore. I'm sure he's only doing this out of interest with his own house's history, nothing else. Alicent has spoken to me about this obsession of his... The same obsession the King was when he was healthy."

"THE BOY WAS LOOKING INTO SAERA TARGERYEN…" Otto burst, his eyes now wild. "He had her name on a short list of other Targaryen women! Rhenys, Gale, and SAERA..."

It was those words that finally gave Mellos pause. He put down the ladle that was in his hand and turned to Otto. "You're sure he was looking into Saera specifically? There were two other names on there, as you say…"

"That matters very little, as she was still on the list…"

"Don't let your panic overrule you." Mellos replied calmly yet again. Otto looked ready to pour the boiling concoction he was working on over his head. "Aemond is smart, yes, but he is also loyal to house Hightower, The faith, and the Citadel… And particularly loyal to his mother, the Queen… If he were to learn anything…" Otto let out an audible hiss at this. "I said, IF… and that is a very big IF… I would be very surprised if he let it get any further than himself."

"We are far too close to our goal…. Viserys no longer sits the throne. Alicent rules as regent… Rhaenyra hides her with her bastards on Dragonstone. She's been far away from any pollical involvement in years. We have the small counsel, King's landing, and the support of over half of the seven kingdoms AND the faith. If anything were to come out now…"

"It won't, as long as you kept your composure and keep an eye over the boy's shoulder… AND…" Mellos said, turning his head lightly to the side. "The boy might surprise you…"

Otto narrowed his eyes at Mellos, feeling frustrated that he was not seeing things the way he was. That he was not seeing the threat it could become.

"What do you mean by that?"

"As I've said, the boy is loyal. He hates Rhaenyra and definitely hates her boys. He was the only one to ever call the boys what the entire realm knows they are. He's strong, able, and not only has Vhagar, but is deadly in his own right. Many in the small counsel already believe you wish to groom him to be Aegon's hand… When the time comes."

Otto's jaw locked. That was his intention… His and Alicent's. Aegon was a fool, Womanizer, and a drunk, but if his years with Viserys taught him anything, it was that a weak fool could still be a king as long as his hand was strong enough…

That was up until he saw the paper, and possibilities flashed before his eyes… The realization of the danger they could be in had set in. The end of all the plans he had been a party to for decades… Of all the things he and many others had worked hard to bury, being unearthed for all to see.

"DON'T let your panic overwhelm you!" Mellos snapped, then let out an exasperated sigh. "How about this; Why not test the boy? See if we can trust him… If we can, we let him in. If not, we can work out something else."

"... I've already told him to turn over any and all research to you. In the next few days… If he drops it off, we'll see. Try to find out if he learned anything… We'll… We'll move forward from there."

Mello narrowed his eyes at Otto but nodded lightly all the same. "Very well… But as I said… I don't believe that to be necessary. I truly believe Aemond will be firmly on our side…"

Behind the semi-closed door, listening intently will being concealed by shadows, wood, and an old, dark brown cloak, a single purple eye burned hateful as Aemond Targaryen burned every word of this conversation to memory.

Lucius and Narcissa were pouring over the chalkboard, a written list of pros and cons in three different columns. Draco and Airy were sitting about 15 feet away in the middle of parchment landmine. Notes from Lady Cassie's books (all four of them had taken to calling her that now) as well as notes from the books found in the Malfoy Library and the books Airy had purchased. Teddy napping happily in his cozy Moses basket, his little stuffed badger clutched in his arms.

After combing through pages and paragraphs, they had narrowed their traveling options down to three possible methods… The first way was something akin to a port key. This would shoot them off and send them on their way. The second was vanishing cabinet. The major problem with that? They had to have one of the cabinets already on the other side… which they did not have. The third was the best and one of the safest, A Transportation circle.

"This was how Lady Cassie had brough her, her husband, and her daughters over…" Lucius pointed out.

"Yes, and while her notes were extensive, there are still three problems we are facing before we can be sure it will work…." Narcissa argued. "First and foremost, the gaps in the information. In particular, the three pages of the notes had aged, dried, and snapped. We were doing their best to fill in the gaps with their research, but it would still take a good week or two."

"The second is the transportation destination…" Draco pointed out. "The Circle Cassie had made was created to take people from Westeros to Earth… We need THIS circle to take us from Earth BACK to Westeros…" Sadly they couldn't do that just by reversing the runes or flipping the circle design around. This was complex sacred geometry. Airy hadn't even taken Numerology. Hence why the two older adults were pouring over the chalk board. This was sure to take a week or two as well…

"Then there is the third issue… Magical energy." Airy added. "After we make the circle, in order to open it and keep it open long enough to travel safely threw, we'll needed a lot of it. If this was the Muggle world, we could have a truck load of car batteries or gas-powered generators... But this isn't the muggle world, and it's now the main problem."

"We should still work on making a new set of vanishing cabinets that will function across 'The Great Divide.' Luckily Draco knows quite a lot about Vanishing cabinets…" Though everyone silently agreed not to mention the reason why. They could work on this while the older adults worked out the Sacred Geometry calculations…

Aradia groaned loudly as she stretched her arms, then looked over to check on Teddy. While they were making (Slow) progress on narrowing things down, she couldn't help but feel there had to be another way to hurry things along… She looked down at her ring, that was shining brightly. A ring that, according to Narcissia, had collected all the magic it needed.

"So, the ring should have worked just like a portkey... you should be ready to go, it's ready enough to take you… The only Problem? We have no clue as to what the activation words are…" Narcissa explained earlier.

They had tried to compile a short list of phases. 'Fire and Blood" "Home." "To King's landing." "To Dragonstone." Lucius even added "Dracarys." just in case… But until she was fully packed and ready to go, she didn't want to play around with just telling them outload. Plus, the idea of port keying with a newborn made her uncomfortable…

Which was they there being here now, weighing all options on the table. It had been hours of back and forth, Maybes, kindas, and What ifs… But now, it seemed like they were finally at a consensus.

"So… We will focus on the Transportation circle, with the Vanishing cabinet as a back-up. An 'Emergency Exit' sort of option… It seems the safest route, even if it will take a far bit more time. Agreed?"

"Agreed." Narcissa responded.

"Agreed…" Draco echoed.

"Agreed!" Airy added with a smile, she started to stand up, to condense the papers and research they would need going forward and put away the papers that were no longer needed. But as soon as she stood up, a ghostly white Otter made of magical white threads jumped into the window. It ran and stopped Infront of Airy, pulsing with light a few times. Airy's mouth dropped. but before she could respond, Her heard Hermione's voice.

"SOMEONE took a photo of you at Krum's game and sold it to the Daily Prophet. It made front page... The ministry knows you're in Bulgaria now! They're sending a team of Aurors to hunt you down and retrieve you. They are already on their way. If you haven't already left, you need to LEAVE NOW, Airy. Pack up and RUN."

Airy's mouth dropped, and her eyes widened. Draco looked pissed and cursed under his breath about 'fucking greedy fools with cameras'. Narcissia gasped and covered her mouth with her hand, and Lucius had the gull to look impressed as he mumbled 'a Team of aurors?' so low under his breath she almost missed it.

Teddy, however, was not a fan of the sudden load voice, and immediately woke with a full-lunged baby scream.

Hermione and Aemond; Pardon me as I F#$K UP ALL YOUR PLANS...

Ministry of magic and Otto Hightower; O.O! -.-!