Chapter 10

Unyielding

Hermione arrived at the atrium of the ministry around 11pm in the evening. It was ghostly quiet apart from a few Ministry workers and Guards. She held her cloak close to her head and took a deep breath relieved she convinced Molly she did not need attending too and there were enough people to ensure her safety within the Department itself. She slowly made her way to the golden lifts before realising she was quite uncertain how to get to the Department, but she knew the lifts were enchanted to take her exactly where she needed to go. It was a strange thing being within the Ministry at this time of the evening the Halls missed their buzz of crowds and the air almost deadly still without enchanted bird memos flying over head although she still noticed one or two taking flight until she reached the golden clad gates of the elevator.

Once inside she focused on her need to arrive at the department of Mysteries and clearly keep a solid image of Unspeakable Black within her head as the Elevator began to move. Within a few moments of being pulled in every which direction the gates creaked open and Hermione exited to find she was in a Narrow passage with only a staircase winding down for what appeared to be miles. She assumed this was the way she needed to do. Nothing else suggested otherwise. As she took to the steps, she realised that the stairs seemed to be unending but she an awful sense of calm came over her the further she got. Almost as if she was meant to be here. Finally, a small figure behind a desk appeared, Hermione was unsure if she was in the right place but she only had to ask and then could figure out what to do.

"Excuse me?" Hermione asked out gently knowing the hour was late and her visit was highly unexpected. She realised now the small figure was actually that of a House Elf draped in a deep maroon cloak. "Miss Granger?" It asked with clear pronunciation which originally would have shocked Hermione but she realised that she was belittling a creature for lack of not knowing its past or happening. "Yes, I am Miss Granger." She gently smiled at the elf. "The Unspeakables have been expecting you, if you feel it apt I will pop you to them." The Elf questioned as it hopped off its stool and walked around the desk. "That would be most helpful, Thank you." Hermione answered and expected the Elf to blush with the gratitude, but it merely nodded and held out it's hand for her to take. It was most peculiar.

As soon as she took the House Elf's hand Hermione appeared to be deep within the bowels of the Mystery Department and clearly the unspeakables kept rather unique hours as the buzz that was missing from the main atrium was very present here. Hundreds of memos flew overhead, and several figures adorned in maroon were walking back and forth or discussing. "Right this way." The house elf led Hermione to a door that read "Restricted access Senior Mysteries and Authorised Personal only" the door itself was a deep green and Hermione could feel the heavy wards laced into the foliage design around it. "Wait here, I will check they are ready." The house elf disappeared and reappeared before Hermione had time to process. "They are ready, you may enter." Hermione gently touched the door, the wards felt warm and familiar all too soon they fell away as she moved into the room. Three figures dressed in black cloaks with the tell-tale sign of maroon lining stood discussing. "Hello?" Hermione gentle tried to gain notice. "Miss Granger, I am glad you made it here so easily." It was Unspeakable Black she gently lowered her hood and smiled at her. "So easily?" Hermione questioned whilst looking around the room. "Not many people can make it to the Department of Mystery without becoming side track but one of the rooms calling to them." Narcissa mentioned as she began to pull and place stones and crystals around the room. The next figure to remove their hood was Ollivander. "It is so lovely to see you again Ms Granger. And clearly being here was a much better decision than my shop. I can feel your magic from over here." It was said with a smile, but Hermione could hear the concern in his voice.

Hermione slowly started towards them getting ready to remove the portraits from her satchel and set her things down. Molly insisted that she pack her some Tea and biscuits as well as some lighter snacks as she wanted to make sure she would have appropriate nourishment. "Please Miss Granger, you may put anything you wish into this box and take out anything you believe you may need and place it on the table. I would also advise you place some protective wards over them as well just in case of accidents." Narcissa added. "Also, if I could see your current wand that would be most grateful." Ollivander asked holding out his hand. Hermione suddenly felt dreed about allowing someone else take her wand but quickly reminded herself that this was Ollivander. "Ohh this poor thing, as I remember it but clearly struggling to manage." The comment caught Hermione by surprise. "You can tell that from just holding it?" Ollivander just smiled at her. "As I told Harry, the wand chooses the wizard. In this case witch and it hasn't wanted to fail you, but things change. Out growing a wand is rare and what is more a change within your core of magic causes incompatibility neither you nor the wand are at fault for who wants to learn wandlore these days." It was all said with a slight reprieve in his voice.

"You shouldn't be too surprised several witches and wizards have graced my shop as of late due to a change in magic. A terrible time as terrible aftereffects." Ollivander finished his comments and placed Hermione's old wand upon a stand. The Final figure removed their hood and gave Hermione a gentle smile, she recognised him but was unsure of who he was. "I am Gareth Greengrass. I am a senior Unspeakable and I oversee this room which is to explain my presence this evening." Hermione gave a nod back and began to place her needed items on the table. The small portraits of Dumbledor and Severus were placed on the table with a small leather-bound journal and a ball point pen. Hermione placed her thermos and Tupperware container of goodies on the table as well.

Narcissa had finished what she was doing and gave Hermione an empathetic smile. "I think first we should sort out a wand, but truly I think Mr Ollivander will need all the information first. I must ask if you are comfortable with me sharing that information." Hermione could only nod. "Her true magic core takes from of a basilisk the king of snakes. She has affinities with several categories, but her strongest affinities are with Wards, ley lines, Dark and blood magic." Ollivander nodded making a note as he appeared to go through a ledger of wands. "Very interesting." He noted to himself. "Have you been able to test magical power and the strength of familial ties?" He was talking to Narcissa and Hermione decided it would be best to listen. "Her core is leaking so I was only able to complete those assessments. I had plan to complete the other assessments this evening."

"Wonderful, well may I suggest we hold off on finding a wand until the other assessments are complete as it will enable us to find a more suitable wand with fewer accidents." Ollivander offered to Narcissa. "That Is amenable to myself. Ms Granger is that amenable to you?" Hermione once again could only nod. "Well I believe we should begin." Narcissa waved a guiding hand to show Hermione a rug to sit on in the centre of several large crystals. "This test is out overall power and output. I strongly advise when you begin to feel weak you stop as burning yourself out will not help anyone." The explanation was simple enough. Hermione was to close her eyes and meditate when ready she was to allow her magic to flow into the crystals around her that would measure her power. The greater her power the more crystals she will light and the brighter they will shine. Easy enough Hermione thought to herself.

Hermione lowered herself onto the rug and begin to breath slowly, closing her eyes she could feel her magic around her it was light but had a heavy undertone to it. Slowly but surely she pushed her magic out guiding it to touch each stone placed around the circle. "If able try and show us what it feels like to strain your magic for a very short period and then stop." Hermione began to push her limits and allowed her magic to follow freely over, it was like a flood. Behind her closed eyes she could see the room illuminate. She quickly stopped and open her eyes to see the Unspeakable staring. Before she could ask any questions Ollivander began "Will we need something completely unyielding, I am surprised her wand is still in one piece."