Hello, darlings! I hope you are well. I hope you enjoyed your Halloween/All Souls Day festivities. To clear this up, Nagini is not yet a horcrux. I prescribe to the theory that Voldemort has to have an adult body to create a horcrux due to the complicated magic required, therefore neither Bertha Jorkins nor Frank the groundskeeper were used. Now, she never will be.
Chapter 16 When It All Begins to Change
Once in the common room, everyone mobbed Harry for information. While Ron stayed at his side lapping up the attention, Hermione slipped away. She and Ron had no place in the official story, but Harry might appreciate the support regardless of why it was given. She climbed the boys' staircase to where Lila waited with the snake. "Oh, wise one, such a tale of woe," Lila petted the serpent. "This sweet girl is maledictus in her final stage."

"Maledictus?" questioned Hermione.

"A female suffering from blood curse. She is lost to the animal now."

"How horrible," gasped Hermione.

"But mistress has saved her from dark wizard. She will not suffer now."

"Hopefully anyway," muttered Hermione. She held her hand over the snake and felt her energies and health levels. Her spirit looked dull and her energy felt low. "Hello, there."

"Greetings, wise one. Thank you for saving Nagini," the snake hissed.

"You're welcome. Do you know what they planned?"

"The fat one took my venom to mix with my blood for the baby to drink."

"Baby?" inquired Hermione.

"The fat one called it master."

"Did he ever refer to him as Lord Voldemort?"

"I do not know. I do not remember. I am hungry. May I hunt?"

"Lila, please take Nagini out to my forest to hunt."

"At once, my lady." The two departed.

Hermione frowned deep in thought. When she looked up she noticed Amira in the painting before her. "Queen Anne notified me of your hissed conversation. She thought you might have questions and contacted me." Amira gestured to Anne Boleyn beside her.

"Thank you, your majesty."

"Think nothing of it, wise one."
"I do have questions. What exactly is a maledictus?"
"A woman affected by a blood curse that causes the sufferer to take an animal form, eventually she is lost to the animal form unable to shift back. More often than not these days the descendant of the original victim. It passes from mother to daughter. While not all blood curses cause maledictus, all blood curses pass down through the maternal line to female offspring."

"How barbaric on so many levels. Can they be cured?"

"Not to my knowledge, but in honesty, I don't know anyone who ever tried," admitted Amira. "Then again, you are the first Druid with natural healing abilities that I have personally known."

"My darling Elizabeth's court magician, John Dee, did some research into the phenomena," remarked Anne. "The dear man kept me abreast of her reign as he could."

"I'll start my search there, thank you."

"Did you learn anything from the snake?" asked Amira.

"Her name is Nagini. The follower is caring for Voldemort in some kind of baby form. Nagini doesn't know much," she shrugged. "Even if I can't help her, I'll start looking into blood curses, no one should have to suffer them. Especially not their descendants."

"Good hunting, my student," Amira regarded her proudly.

Hermione shared what little Nagini knew with the boys when they joined her. "Do you think the fat one is Pettigrew?" asked Harry. "Trewlaney's prophecy said they would be reunited."

"Distinct possibility," answered Hermione. She dropped her head back against her chair wearily.

"So, go get him," snapped Ron. "Call your buddies back and chase him down."

"It doesn't work that way, Ron," she told him.

"Then what good are you?" he shot back hotly.

Her eyes narrowed, rage flashing in them, "What good am I?" Energy crackled around her. "First, Druids do not exist to fix all your problems. I am not a fancy servant here at your beck and call. Second, Pettigrew has not wronged me directly. He's a liar, traitor, and probably murderer, but I cannot call the Hunt without the emotions, without cause. It doesn't work that way. Third, I spent all year working with Harry so he could survive this insanity! A process you barely assisted with. I did all this while continuing my extracurricular training and schoolwork. If you want to petition the Wild Hunt against Wormtail, look up how to do it and knock yourself out. I am going to bed before you insult me again."

Harry glared at him. Ron looked back at him sheepishly. "Not okay, mate," Harry said. "Hermione doesn't have to do anything. She shouldn't be expected to do everything. She's right. She isn't a genie to make all our wishes come true. If Sirius or Remus want to call the Wild Hunt they can."

"He betrayed your parents," protested Ron. "You could call them."

"Not without talking to Sirius. But that's not my point. Hermione is doing a lot. And over the last two years, we've been pretty shite friends. That changes. We're not dumb. We do our own work, no more copying hers. We remember to offer her help, even if we can't do anything. We carry our own weight. Tomorrow morning you apologize."

"Harry," whined Ron.

"You will apologize. Or you will tell her you don't want to be friends." Ron flinched at the finality in Harry's tone.

"Okay."

Ron waited for Hermione by the portrait hole, "I'm sorry for my behavior last night. I was unfair to you and I've been a bad friend this year."

"Yes, you were," she agreed crossing her arms over her chest. "I will not be held to a higher standard than you hold yourself. Do better."

"I will," he promised.

Harry joined them at breakfast. "Fudge had Barty Crouch kissed last night before anyone could question him," he seethed. "Sirius wrote me."

"That fool," groaned Hermione. "Now we have no idea what they had planned."

"Sirius was already annoyed Dumbledore wants me to go back to my aunt's house to keep the blood wards active, now I might be lucky to get to leave at all."

"Keeping the ward active isn't a bad thing," remarked Hermione.

"And I know that. Doesn't mean anyone has to like it," groused Harry.

"How long do you have to stay?" asked Ron.

"Three weeks, which I will hate every second of."

"It will fly by," Hermione assured him.

Dumbledore called the students to attention to inform them that the disruption the evening before had been caused by Lord Voldemort's return. That he planned to kill the champions and start up a reign of terror. "Why is he telling everyone that?" asked Harry. "It was, but we have no evidence to support the rest of that."

"No idea," replied Ron, looking around concerned. All four tables buzzed with speculation that continued through the end of the year.

Hermione enjoyed her trip to Bulgaria. Viktor proved to be a perfect host for the week she was there. He ensured her visit landed between his graduation and the beginning of his training with the Vultures. "Would be rude to invite you then abandon you." Together they explored the mountainside. She brought Nagini to the reptile sanctuary there. The keepers promised to help the maledictus live out the remainder of her days in peace. "Her aura is better now that her venom is no longer being milked and she isn't being prepped for something dark," she happily reported to Viktor. She returned to England feeling refreshed and decidedly single.

On her last night, Viktor insisted on taking her to dinner in Sofia. After dinner, the two wandered about the city aimlessly. On the edge of a small park, Viktor stopped to face her. "You return to England tomorrow."

"I do. You're off to training."

"I am." He took her hand in his and squeezed. He lowered his lips to hers and gave her a slow lingering kiss. "This feels final."

"But not goodbye. We both knew this had an expiration date."

"I know," he sighed. "And not goodbye. I refuse to let you forget about me. I will write you and I expect you to write back."

"I will. And I want to know everything, how the season is going, how your family is, your adventures with jersey chasers. Well, maybe not all the details, but you know what I mean."

"I do." He kissed her again, "And I want to hear about everything going on for you."

"Deal. And when your matches bring you to England, I expect to be visited."

"Da." They strolled through the city hand in hand until dawn, pausing from time to time to kiss under the full moon. She reported it as the perfect last night to Ginny.

Richard and Bethan Granger perched on the horns of a dilemma. "Sweetheart, your mother and I have been invited to be guest lecturers at a series of conferences about using herbal therapy in conjunction with traditional medicine," Richard explained when she returned home.

"How exciting and flattering. You worked hard on that paper," responded Hermione.

"The catch is the series is all over Europe, Australia, and North America. It runs through June next year with few breaks long enough for us to come back," Bethan informed her.

"And I have school and other things," Hermione finished the unspoken thought.

"You could stay with your grandparents," offered Bethan. She twisted her fingers.

Hermione instantly caught what her mother didn't say, "You would feel better if I stayed with Sirius given the events of the last few months."

"Yes, given the murders under people's noses and the kidnapping attempts, we would feel better if you were with adults who were better prepared to protect you." Hermione had told them about Barty Couch Sr's death at the hands of his son and the events of the tournament.

"When do you leave? I'll let Sirius know I'm coming."

Richard gave her an odd look, "Don't you need to check with him first? They might have plans."

"That would be considered an insult. I am considered part of House Black. Which, incidentally, makes Harry like my sibling now. I could change my last name to Black if I wanted to. Any time I need shelter of any kind he is available. If he has plans I will be folded into them. I don't ask for protection, I tell him I am here for it. And he'll be thrilled."

"Oh, that's reassuring. We leave next week to finalize things, but we'll be back for the Midsummer trip," Richard told her.

"Yay!"

"We may have to miss Christmas," cautioned Bethan.

"I won't be alone," Hermione promised.

Hermione arrived at No. 12 Grimmauld Place in chaos. Raised voices came from several directions. Harry sat pale in the living room. Molly Weasley fussed at Sirius while he made loud floo calls. "What happened?" she asked Harry.

"Dudley and I were nearly kissed by dementors. I had to use magic to protect us. The ministry wants to snap my wand."

"You're allowed underage magic in self-defense."

"Second offense," he pointed out. "I blew up Marge before third year."

"Doesn't matter it was self-defense. I wonder who sent the dementors?"

"I didn't ask," he snapped.

"I didn't expect that you did, or that they would answer if you had. Have you had chocolate?"

"Yes, still feeling shaky, though," he admitted.

"Give me your hand," Hermione ordered. She hummed under her breath and glowed for a second.

"That's better. Thanks."

"Has someone checked on Dudley?" she asked.

Harry looked away guiltily, "No, I don't believe so."

"Okay. I'll get Remus to take me. Someone needs to make sure he's treated," she smiled sadly. She found the werewolf in the library dealing with the boggart there. "Hello, professor."

"Call me Remus or Moony, I'm not your teacher anymore."

"Correction, you aren't my professor anymore. You can, and likely will, still teach me."

"Cheeky," responded Remus with a fond grin.

"Yes, yes I am."

"Do you need something, Hermione?"

"Someone needs to check on Dudley. He was nearly kissed. Even if the Dursleys take him to the A they won't know how to properly treat him there."

"Good thinking. I'll get the good chocolate." Remus collected a full bar of Honeydukes finest. He side-along apparated her to No. 4 Privet Drive.

The empty drive suggested Vernon and Petunia did, indeed, take Dudley for medical attention. Hermione took them to the local hospital Remus used magic to locate Dudley. They slipped into the curtained nook. The Dursleys looked up. Vernon's walrus mustache twitched. His face flushed scarlet, "Now, see here, you freaks..."

"Shut up!" snapped Hermione, concern for Dudley filling her. She approached him. Petunia tried to block her. "Don't be stupid. We're here to help." Dudley sat staring straight ahead unblinking. He shivered despite the heated blanket wrapped around him. She took his hand without looking at the adults. Quietly she sang in an ancient language no longer spoken. Her skin glowed as healing magic flowed out of her. Dudley's body relaxed, his tremors easing. Color returned to his cheeks. She released his hands and stepped back.

"Eat a section of this every two hours this evening. You'll be fine," Remus handed him the candy bar. Without waiting for the Dursleys to respond, Hermione left, and Remus followed. "They could have at least thanked you."

"I didn't do it to be thanked. I did it because Dudley needed my help. If I only did things I would be thanked for I wouldn't do much of anything." She exited the hospital and crossed to the park across the street.

"Is that how you feel, Hermione?" asked Remus softly.

"Sometimes, maybe. No one thanks Harry for what he does either most of the time."

"Hermione," he started, but she interrupted.

"I don't need to be thanked. Sure, it would be nice, but I don't need outside validation. I know who I am. I know what I need to do to stay true to myself. So long as I do that I'm okay with the behavior of others. The universe frequently tests Druids on their paths. And I did not pick the easiest one. But it is the one that called to me."

He offered her his arm to return to Grimmauld Place. Before she wandered off, he asked, "Hermione, what path did you take?"

"I am the Light-Amid-the-Dark," she called back over her shoulder. The werewolf stared after her before shaking his head and went in search of Sirius.

He found his friend in his study speaking with Tonks, Shaklebolt, and his barrister, Niles Baxter. They looked up when he entered. "How's the muggle?" asked Shaklebolt.

"Better now. Parents took him to the A . They were attempting to treat him for shock. I ensured he had the right kind of chocolate to treat him."

"Mr. Potter mentioned it was Miss Granger's suggestion to initiate treatment for Mr. Dursley. Is this correct?" asked Baxter.

"Yes, she's rather compassionate like that," answered Sirius proudly.

"Can you obtain the medical record of the muggle requiring medical attention?"

"Possibly with a subpoena, but otherwise, unlikely," admitted Sirius. "They don't like magic."

"Noted. We have an eye witness, Ms. Figg, a squib." Baxter looked at the initial reports. "Why is Fudge so insistent that Miss Granger has something to do with all of this? They want her to testify."

Sirius shot to his feet, "That bastard!"

Remus also stood, "Padfoot, calm down."

"Tell me I'm wrong?"

"You're not, but you need to select your next words carefully. Baxter is silenced by client confidentiality. The aurors are not and if questioned might have to reveal information from this conversation. Information they would otherwise keep to themselves."

Sirius slumped back into his chair, "Which Fudge wants. Sorry, guys, officially I have no idea why. Unofficially, I suggest he rethink this tactic before he makes a mistake he can't come back from." He stared at Shaklebolt and Tonks. His cousin nodded as did the taller black man.

Baxter looked concerned, "Is there something I need to know?"

"Need?" said Sirius, "I don't know that you need to know. Want? I assume you would want to know. But we're not going to tell you unless we have to."

Baxter nodded sagely, "Best way to keep a secret is to limit who knows and control your information. I understand. If there is nothing else, I will see you first thing in the morning in two days for court. We will want Harry to have time to acclimate himself to the courtroom."

"We'll be there," promised Sirius.

Baxter stood, "Prepare Miss Granger to receive a summons. Fudge seems quite insistent."

The next morning a sheepish Tonks returned to serve Hermione, "Baxter called it. Robards is hacked because Fudge won't tell anyone why she has to testify."

"He wants to play with fire," said Remus. "He just doesn't think he'll get burned."

After Tonks left, Harry asked his burning question, "Why does Fudge want Hermione there?"

"He thinks it will force her to reveal herself. Just because he knows doesn't mean he can tell anyone. Druids are respected members of society, he won't share her identity. But once she tells the public who she is they can approach her with requests," explained Remus.

Hermione snorted, "They can try to get me to glad hand for them and fix problems better solved by the ministry. Something they wouldn't dream of doing to an adult, but I'm just a child to be manipulated."

"More the fools they," said Sirius. "Not that I will allow it anyway." Hearing the Weasleys arrive, he continued, "That is a conversation for another time." As far as Hermione knew Ginny and Ron were the only Weasleys that knew anything. Not that she objected to the others knowing. She should at least tell the twins, possibly that afternoon.

The Weasleys came over the help clear the decades of grime from the house and the centuries of clutter frequently. Kreacher resented the intrusion until Sirius explained Hermione's concern for his well-being. He claimed she feared the elderly house elf would overwork himself in his zeal. It was let Molly help clean or let her cook. Kreacher chose to let her clean. Neither witch nor elf was happy with the compromise, but couldn't object. Mrs. Weasley complained about it at least once a visit, and Kreacher muttered under his breath. The Weasleys stopped staying for meals when Ron couldn't stop raving about the quality of the food.

The Weasley matriarch swiftly organized the teenagers into cleaning teams. She sent Fred with Harry, Ron with Ginny, and George with Hermione. The latter raised a questioning eyebrow. "Mum doesn't want Fred and I colluding on prank products. If she separates us we will see the error of our ways and want to join the ministry after school. Ron read Gin's diary and is now convinced if given the opportunity she will rip Harry's clothes off and have her wicked way with him. He throws a wobbly every time his name is said in the same breath as hers."

Hermione giggled, "Well, I will endeavor to keep you as entertained as Fred could."

"Thank you, oh wise one," he bent in a sweeping courtly bow.

"How long have you known?" she asked softly.

"Since the marks started appearing. Play pranks, make jokes, and people underestimate your intelligence."

"Sanity? Yes. Intelligence? Never. Though I may have underestimated your observational skills."

George chuckled, "Are you announcing yourself then?"

"I don't plan to, but a few politicians know and are trying to force me to."

"That is shite," growled George.

"Agreed." Hermione began knocking down cobwebs. "So is forcing us to do this by hand when people and beings have magic and could do it in half the time. Let Fred know that I know you know."

"Certainly, wise one."

"You're going to keep calling me that, aren't you?"

He grinned madly, "Every chance we get." They both laughed.

Hermione managed to get Ginny alone just before the family of redheads returned home. She quickly filled her in on which of her brothers knew about her double life. "I cannot wait to see Lavender's face," the younger girl cheered.

"You can't?" Hermione felt confused.

"The Druid is female, not male like Lavender 'saw.' We argued about it, remember?"

"Oh yeah, you did. Her face will be priceless. I hope one of us gets to see it."
"Or both of us. Why are you telling them now?"

"Baxter thinks the minister is trying to force me to admit something at Harry's trial. And I wanted them to hear it from me, not the Daily Liar, I mean, Daily Prophet."

Ginny rolled her eyes, "Because that isn't worse than invading your privacy."

"I'm sure in their minds it isn't. They get to start trying to openly manipulate me without the negative stigma of having announced my identity to the world."

"I hate politicians," Ginny wrinkled her nose.

"I have no interest in playing their games."

"Are you going to make them work for it?" inquired Ginny.

"Absolutely. Just because they issued a summons doesn't mean I have the information they are looking for. They want to play games? We can play games. I hope this doesn't blow up in their faces," Hermione smirked.

"That would be tragic," giggled Ginny. "I want a play-by-play later."

"I'll do my best."