Author's notes; I need to apologise for the delay in updating the story but I am trying my best. I also need to note that I have been writing on mobile and have struggled to edit or correct.

please let me know how you feel about the story and review

thank you

willow

On with the story.

Blood forgotten with laughter

Hermione and Bill went through the many vaults she kept. Ranging from a vault for property deeds to her stock share percentage vault. Every vault had a unique ward pattern and curses galore. Bill realised the deeper into the bowels of the bank they got the more darker curses seemed to appear but he decided to stay silent. Hermione always knew what she was doing and he trusted in that. But she wasn't the same Hermione he once knew.

"Finally I request you stay here Mr Weasley. This vault can only be entered by authorised personnel which unfortunately we cannot grant you permission." The goblin nodded and he wondered off with Hermione. "I'll wait for you here Hermione." She nodded but didn't give a full answer. Hermione followed quietly knowing exactly where she was going. "Now we are away from prying ears, what would you like to discuss that you have brought me here?" The small creature turned and grumbled to himself as if he was in turmoil. "It's our vaults, the goblin vaults. We moved a lot of our wealth to our homes. But some important items we retrieved we placed here. But we cannot access them. There are dark, dark curses. They must be wizard based. We have lost quite a few goblins trying to access the vaults." he went to continue before Hermione proceeded to walk towards the vaults. "When did you discover the curses as such?" She had a wand in one hand and was casting silent detection charms with the other wandlessly.

"We have been trying since the end of the war." Hermione realised a number of glamours had been placed upon the vault and began to slowly remove them. Terror filled Hermione's head as she viewed the reality of the vault in front of her. "Blood runes. We must leave now, I cannot help you until I have restored myself and have a better wand." She turned and began to walk at a high pace. "Miss granger wait!" The goblin began to shout "what do they mean?!" Hermione turned back and slowly calmed her breath. "Those runes, the enchantments, glamours and curses. I have only read about and know of only one person to take them down. I may dip into the dark arts but this is something I wouldn't even deem to touch. This magic requires the wizard to drain the creature's blood it wishes to affect. But worse than that it requires the blood of an infant." An audible gasp left the goblin and he began to hurriedly follow Hermione out of the passageway to the cart.

"We will finish here today, take Miss Granger wherever she wishes and you may finish for today." Pushing the wizard into the cart and quickly moving them to the bank's foyer. "Good day Miss Granger and Mr Weasley." He left them quickly " is he alright? He looks rather pale." Bill noted. "A few hiccups in our plans, you know how goblins hate to lose money and waste time." It was a nonchalant answer but Bill knew there were a few missing parts. "So Hermione, where to?" He guided Hermione towards the back entrance. "I would like to pop to see Fred and George before we leave for today."

Bill lead the way, noticing how Hermione pulled the hood of her cloak tight against her hair. They quickly shimmied pass the reports onto the Main Street of the alley. Bill quickly lost sight of Hermione and then saw her 20 feet ahead walking hurriedly. He quickly caught up and touched her shoulder. He was met with a wand pointed at his throat. "Remove yourself before I remove something for you." Bill stood in shock and Hermione realising whom it was began to apologise before Bill waved his hands and moved forward as to continue their trek to Weasley wheezes.

Just before they reached the front steps Bill spoke up finally finding his words, "I didn't mean to scare you Hermione." He said softly before holding the door open "Nor I you Bill, nor I you." She almost whispered before entering into the thrall of madness. Hermione was always in awe of the shop and if truth be told was the happiest place on earth for her. The sound of laughter from all ages and the smiles it was everything Hermione always seeked to find comfort in her broken heart.

Hermione shuffled round the shop inspecting each product her fancy took. She hummed and harred looked at the spell work or ingredients they had name but not giving full detail away before moving onto the next product. "Just found the boys mione, they said you can go into the back." Bill's hush tones woke Hermione from inspection and she nodded but before she could leave she felt the tug of a hand at her cloak. "Really sorry mione but is it alright if I go, it's just I never get to finish this early and I'd love to see Fleur." It wasn't exactly a question but Hermione realized he seeked an answer or at least a justification. She nodded and headed on her hunt for the back room.

She finally saw the distant door along the tight corridor of older products but before she could pursue her sanctuary she heard a cry. She whipped around with her wand gripped tight in her hand. It was the tiniest little girl she saw. She could have only been 3 or 4 and products began to float around her from her magic. "Mummmy!" She cried again. Hermione saw the possible devastation the girl was about to cause and rushed over bending down. "There, there we can find your mummy." She tried to soothe the girl.

She surprised Hermione by clutching into her chest. "I….finds….mmmmm…mummy" was all Hermione got from her sobs. Hermione quickly lift the girl into her arms and waved her hands to organize the products once more. The girls sobs stopped in awe of her magic. She giggled and started bouncing for Hermione to move the products again. "No wand?" She questioned and Hermione smiled and showed the girl her palm before making a tiny blue bell appear. "No wand" Hermione confirmed. Hermione wandered with the small girl along the row searching for someone to recognize the child.

Hermione hadn't realized her hood had fallen as she walked the aisle. She then realized that people had began to stare. "Daddy!" The girl shouted as she bagan to point towards a slim built man who looked eerily family. "Lula! I told you not to wander off" He said sternly before looking at Hermione. "Hermione?" He questioned before pulling the small child from her arms. It was then Hermione realized the child's father was Oliver Wood. She said nothing but nodded. "Thank you for looking after lula" he spoke softly. The girl began to fuss in his arms "she does magic without a wand." Was what the girl attempted to tell her father and he began to enthusiastically settle her. "Oh really, she must be a very powerful witch."

"She was looking for her Mummy." Hermione hushed to Oliver. Oliver sighed "oh lula, I told you mummy is always with you but you just can't see her." He comforted the small child. Hermione realized he had lost too in the war. "Now I think it's time to go Lula, say thank you to Hermione." She her a mumble about staying with the pretty witch that makes flowers but Oliver hoisted Lula further up his hip and gave her a pointed look "tank you Hermy" was the best they got. Oliver nodded his thanks and left.

It was now Hermione realized the deadly quiet of the store and many shoppers gazed at Hermione intently. "Could I get a" the voice was cut off as Hermione felt hands grab her shoulders and direct her to the back room. Hermione felt rather stupid that in the shock of being revealed to the shoppers she hadn't drawn her wand.

"So what do we owe the pleasure of the brightest witch of her age?" George began "the beauty behind the brawn" Fred added "the one how keep the dunderheads alive." Fred looked over to George "ohh very Snape, I like it."

"I thought I just might pop in and see two people who bring joy to the Wizarding world even in the darkest of time." Hermione answered "please don't do that Hermione, you sound very Dumbledore. And you're too young and gorgeous to sound like that old bag of scheming." Fred noted. A chuckle sounded from Hermione's bag and both boys gave her the look. Hermione knew the look well but before she could make a run for it they were upon her reaching for her bag. Hermione shouted "STOP! Before you hurt yourself." She grabbed the bag back and undid her spells before handing it back. The boys watched her eagle eyed.

Fred gently opened the bag and slowly reached inside. Quickly realizing the undetectable extension charm. "Oh! What those hands." He knew the voice and quickly pulled out the small miniature portraits. "Professor Snape?" Fred questioned before George added "Professor Dumbledore?"

"Well at least these Weasleys have half a head on them." Snape added "Truly a great shame they never put the work in academically." Dumbledore mused. "They never needed teachers really, they were quite capable on their own." Snape argued. "Was that a compliment forge?" Fred's face lit up with humor "I believe it was Gred. And from the bat of the Dungeon himself." Hermione huffed her annoyance "please don't call him that."