HP/LOTM: Visionary - 396

Chapter 396: Hermione's Plan and the Gathering at Malfoy Manor

The fall of the Ministry threw the entire British wizarding world into chaos. This was now an age when Dark wizards revelled.

London, Manchester, 36 Royce Road.

Hermione packed her belongings into an Undetectable Extension Charm suitcase, a gift from a friend. The Daily Prophet in her hands detailed the disasters befalling wizards across the country. At the very bottom of the section was a story about a Muggle family massacred.

Hermione stared at the paper for a moment, then stood as if she had made up her mind. She raised her wand, ready to go downstairs. Having already turned seventeen, she was no longer bound by the Ministry's Trace. Though whether the Ministry still existed was another question, that did not stop her exercising her rights as an adult witch outside school.

"Looks like our know-it-all has made up her mind to fight," a girl's voice said suddenly from behind her.

"Ha!" Hermione spun, wand out, and fired a Petrificus Totalus straight back.

At the same time, grey-scaled dragon claws flashed in Arthursi's eyes and crushed the spell mid-air.

"Arthursi!" Hermione gasped, then found herself pulled into the arms of a certain female dragon.

"Vicious little thing, aren't you?" Arthursi said, tilting Hermione's chin up.

"Stop messing about," Hermione said, weighed down by worry, pushing her away and sitting on the bed.

"Exactly... exactly!" A grey shadow rose behind Arthursi. Though its face was unclear, the dragon horns and mismatched eyes were unmistakable.

"Aiden! Merlin's beard, are you dead?" Hermione said, startled.

"Hmph. Someone's grand scheme backfired and trapped himself," Arthursi said, rolling her eyes.

"So is he dead or not?"

"Can... you... wish... me... well... for once," Aiden's voice stuttered.

"What's wrong with him?" Hermione asked, curious.

"He's lagging. Ignore him. Actually, I'm here to offer you another option," Arthursi said, waving away the stuttering dragon.

"What?" Hermione asked, lowering her head nervously.

"Stop hiding. Occlumency doesn't work on us anyway," Arthursi said, sitting on the bed and pulling Hermione upright.

"You lot!" Hermione said through gritted teeth.

"But what else can I do if I don't stay away from my parents? I can't drag them into the danger ahead."

"That's why I'm here with a second option. Hide them," Arthursi said, a gleam in her eyes.

"Hide them? The Fidelius Charm? But my parents have to go out," Hermione said, shaking her head.

"Not the Fidelius. It's... never mind. Let him explain."

Arthursi reached out with a dragon claw and dragged the other dragon out from the grey mist.

"Good... evening... Hermione..." The grey shadow looked mechanical, constantly stuttering.

Hermione glanced at the sun outside and looked at Arthursi in confusion. Arthursi shrugged.

"Anyway... we... can... replicate... the... magic... on... Harry... and hide... your parents."

The grey shadow finished speaking in fits and starts, and Hermione's heart gave a violent thump. Clearly the idea was deeply tempting.

"Are there risks?" Hermione asked, thinking it through.

"Your... parents... might... awaken... magic... but you... can arrange... for them... to self-study."

"Ugh, so long-winded," Arthursi said, dispersing the shadow the moment it finished.

"What do you think?" Arthursi asked, waiting.

"Of course. Thank you very much for your help," Hermione said, curtsying.

Arthursi smiled.

They went downstairs and merged two grey orbs into Hermione's parents. The spell was done.

"That's it?" Hermione said, tilting her head.

"What did you expect? That one's an expert at writing stories now," Arthursi said, a veiled jab at Aiden.

At the same time, in the alchemical array in Avalon, the dragon's lips curled slightly, as if dreaming something pleasant.

......

Elsewhere, in the Scottish Highlands, Malfoy Manor.

Black smoke descended from the sky, and Snape stepped out. He drew his wand and with a flick, shattered the Manor's defensive wards like paper.

"Oh, Severus. I thought you weren't coming," said a beautiful woman seated at the far end of the long table.

"Come, my hero. I saved you a seat."

Tom flicked a finger, and the chair to her left pulled back on its own, waiting. The favour made the other Death Eaters burn with envy, especially Bellatrix.

"It seems you bring news," Tom said, resting her chin on her hand and gazing at Snape with smouldering eyes.

"Yes. I've received word they plan to move Harry Potter next Saturday," Snape said, fingers laced on the table.

"My information says the opposite, my Lord. Intelligence we stole from the Aurors indicates they will move the boy on the thirtieth of this month."

Death Eater Yaxley sat at Voldemort's right hand, having successfully placed Pius Thicknesse, a high-ranking Ministry official, under the Imperius Curse. His standing among the Death Eaters had risen sharply, though still not as high as Snape, who had removed one of Voldemort's greatest foes. To compete for favour and win Tom's affection, Yaxley did not hesitate to challenge Snape.

"But that wretched Prewett sabotaged the Ministry's entire alchemical ritual before he left, crippling it. Otherwise we could have used control over the Floo Network or Apparition to capture Potter," Bellatrix said.

"Patience, my dear," Tom said, stepping to Bellatrix's side and stroking her cheek. Bellatrix gazed at her in adoration.

"After all, both our great enemies are gone. No one can stop us now, can they?"

Tom rose again and moved behind Lucius. "But now I have encountered a small problem. The boy and I have wands with cores from the same phoenix. These brother wands prevent us from truly harming one another. So I require a new wand. What say you, Lucius?" Tom's snake eyes fixed coldly on him.

"Yes, my Lord. I will provide whatever help you need," Lucius said. Fresh from Azkaban and haggard, he did not dare refuse.

"Give me your wand," Tom said, extending her hand.

Lucius could only shakily draw his wand and hand it over.

The Death Eaters around them mocked the Malfoys mercilessly, breaking into laughter. Tom did not stop them. Even though they were eating the Malfoys' food and living under their roof, they humiliated the family after taking Lucius's wand. And Tom, their leader, ignored it all.

The Malfoys' already thin loyalty cracked just a little more.