Progress and Development
The hour came by quickly and soon Harry was welcoming the Unspeakable into his home. They wore a deep purple cloak and kept their hood lifted over their head. "Hermione is down in the basement, if you follow me." The guest did not reply but followed Harry to the kitchen. When Harry approached the stairs to the basement he couldn't get a foot close to the door. "I am sorry, the wards must still be up." He called out to Hermione. As they waited the Unspeakable pulled their wand to assess the wards surrounding the now lucrative basement. "Unbreakable." They remarked before Harry huffed and called out for Kreacher.
With a quick pop the house elf joined them in the Kitchen, before Harry could make a request Kreacher began to bow "Yous is mostest welcome to the proudest of Houses. Please look after My Misses Muddyborn." He grabbed their hands and popped into the basement. "Master Potter and Unspeakable Malfoy." As soon as Kreacher finished the introduction wands were now pointed at their guest. "Malfoy?" Hermione hummed out, no wand presented and her eyes flitted over the cloaked figure. "Put the damn wands down, I called her." Severus interrupted.
Molly and Harry lowered their wands but kept them to hand just in case. The figure dropped their hood and before them stood the small but willowy figure of Narcissa Malfoy nee Black. "It is good to see you old friend, I almost didn't believe the message from Cygnus until he told me where to find you." Severus smiled down at his old friend. "Professor, you should have informed us you were inviting a war criminal into my home." Harry bite out poisonously. "I believe Harry you are the reason she is here and not in Azkaban." Hermione had begun to sound like Luna in her fluttering tones. "Welcome Mrs Malfoy, I do really appreciate your assistance." Hermione greeted the older woman.
"I go by black as an Unspeakable but Kreacher would not know that." She stated clearly. Hermione noticed she had sad eyes, eyes she often saw in her own reflection. In the war everyone lost something. "I hope the Malfoy Library donation was usefully to rebuild the Library." It was her effort at creating small talk despite two pairs of eyes watching her like she was about to throw about unforgivables. "Very much soo, yours is the largest donation of all. I hope you kept some books for yourself and not your entire collection, it was only Luicius with a debt to pay." Hermione gave her a chance. "We all in my family have a debt to pay, to society, to Severus, to Harry and to you."
Hermione only nodded knowing the anguish of the woman in front of her. "I believe it would be time to begin. This will be long and taxing. I suggest that Mister Potter and Mrs Weasley vacate the room." Severus suggested. "And leave Hermione alone with Her." Harry was pointing at Narcissa. "Harry it is rude to point, if you really insist, take the small portraits on the deak. If you are needed Albus or Severus will fetch you." Harry stomped over to the desk before calling out to Kreacher. "Are you sure?" He asked one final time, receiving a nod Kreacher popped them away.
"There are a few things we need to go through, before I can begin. I will also need a wizards vow before the proceedings, its precautionary." Hermione stated if it was what she needed to get better than she would do it. They sat for an hour or so going through every time Hermione burned out her magic, every panic or anxiety attack she had had, all changes to her diet and notes on her weight and height. "Finally I need to ask of any familial magic and mark ties you may have." Narcissa questioned and Hermione was at a loss. "I am not sure, I have never looked into it." Before Narcissa began to write Severus stepped in. "She has familial magic to the Weasley's, I believe created by Molly Weasley. She is also the Heir to the Prince fortune, I believe that holds some familial magic in itself. Finally she has the Mark of Hogwarts and Mark of a wards mistress." Narcissa looked at Severus in disbelief. "Is there any proof to this?" Albus stepped in, "I think you'll find that McGonagall has the listing for her Mark, the goblins hold the documentation to her Heiress status and you checked her wards yourself. Would that be sufficient Lady Malfoy." Narcissa did not reply but scribbled into her notes, muttering to herself.
"Okay Hermione, I will talk through the risks and then we will create the oath with Kreacher present." They spent another 20 minutes going through all possible dangers and Hermione completed the oath. With a baited breath Hermione watched on as Narcissa pulled out and enlarged a number of bags and crystals. "First we need to know the heart core of your magic, unfortunately not much is known but usually an animal will present itself as a symbolisation of your core but like your patronus but it will embody your whole being. Not just your happiness." Hermione paused before pondering whether to share the information she deemed important. "Would now be a good time to tell you my patronus has changed?"
"That is very uncommon, but not unheard of. Was there any other changes to it?" Narcissa pulled up her parchment and began to scribble. "It seems to appear darker than it ever was, sometimes it seems to battle itself before taking form." More notes filled Narcissa's parchment. "I would not worry dear, your world has been torn apart ten times over and is still trying to recover." Narcissa stood and began to chant whilst completing the gentle graceful wand movements. Gold dust seemed to dance around Hermione as she felt a pull in her chest. It slowly began to take shape, packing together slowly scales seemed to appear and a hiss could be heard from the dust as if the animal was alive. Once it was fully formed Narcissa looked at the form in shock. "My magic form is a snake?" Hermione asked as she raised her hand to the magical dust snake and it began to slither round her wrist. Narcissa paused "It is not just any snake Hermione, that is the king of Snakes. The basilisk."
After the spell faded and the snake disappeared Narcissa pulled a book from her pocket and enlarged it. "I will need to research as this is a first for me. Do either of you gentlemen have any ideas?" She looked at the portraits. "Well snakes are often a sign of someone being in a fight or flight mode. I would say also basilisk are attached to people who deserve protection. Loyal but completely overpowering and deadly." Severus mumbled off some thoughts "although considered on the darker end of the magic scale, it doesn't mean Hermione is a dark witch." Albus added on. "But it is a completely Dark magic Animal." Narcissa stated. "That may be true but is incredibly weak when you know how to hurt them." Severus continued. "Why don't you continue the whole exam before making a final decision?"
The next test saw Narcissa lay out crystal's in a circle before breathing out an ancient language and the room light began to dim as Hermione felt herself depleting. Not moments after Hermione believed she was completely used up the room lit up from the crystal's light. Another interesting was heard and note scribbling made. "What was that test?" Hermione managed to get out before leaning back into the chair. 2These crystal's show affinities from the 24 I laid down, 4 is an undeniable affinity, 2 clear affinities and 3 standard affinities. The others lit but not to affinity standard." Narcissa explained. "Most people have only one light in each category, you are a very powerful witch Miss Granger."
"May I inquire into Hermione's results?" Intrigued, Albus sat down with a teacup to listen. "In order of affinity Warding, Ley line, Time, Dark, Blood, Charm, Animalistic, protection and potions. The others are standard to below affinity. I would assume her Mark of Hogwarts has increased her affinity to Wards and Ley lines." Albus nodded along. "Hermione took in the information. "Why don't we break for a while Hermione?" Narcissa looked at her reassuringly. "Whilst you rest would you mind if I checked your wand?" Hermione freely handed over and rest in the armchair.
Hermione was woken up with a gentle shake and Narcissa sat down. "I have decided to call it a day." Her sad eyes looked at Hermione gently. "Whilst you slept, I checked your wand and used a spell to see how much magic you were leaking. Daily you are losing about 40% of the daily allowance and your wand is no longer fit for you. I have suggested you come to the department of mysteries for a new wand. I feel you may destroy Ollivanders with the way in which your magic has changed. Before we continue next time, try to eat well and rest. Also come and get a new wand." Narcissa gently patted Hermione's knee before rising and bidding farewell to her friend and former headmaster.