The Witch the Snake and the Werewolf
AN:// Coven in Devon are the creation of Joss Whedon The power to turn the body to stone was from the Ninja Society the Chaste from Marvel Comics. A very faint reference to f/f in this chapter hardly worth mentioning but always better to be on the side of caution. There is also a reference to cousin blackcest, scene of smoking marijuana and some violence. Casualty is the English word for emergency room for those that do not know
Remus woke with a start, shaking from emotions that were not his, alone, surrounded by his release. He sat up, trying to figure out where Hermione had gone off to. He picked up the scent of eggs and teas from downstairs and wetness coming from the bathroom. Remus dragged himself out of bed to the bathroom to pull himself together. He showered and dressed in slacks, a button-down shirt and a cardigan sweater. Showers always managed to calm him down, but he still felt unsettled from the dream last night. He had a feeling that the dreams were covering truths that Hermione was unable to process or deal with. When he went downstairs to bid her good morning Hermione gave him an awkward smile before she motioned him to sit down and put breakfast in front of him. “Good morning, love,” replied Remus The witch was already dressed in a white, open neck sweater and a pair of jeans
“Good morning, Remus,” she answered, not looking him in the eye.
Hermione awoke that morning in bed with Remus, his head on her heart; her right breast was exposed, his obvious hardness pressing into her back. Hermione gently rolled him over, left the bed and went to the bathroom. Remus sure knew what he was doing; she felt like she was about to explode. She ran the shower and lay in the bathtub, touching herself, releasing the pressure that was building in her core.
Remus saw Hermione turn and look at him strangely. He smiled at her reassuringly and lowered his eyes to his food, shifting uncomfortably in his seat from his normal reaction to her.
“What are you doing today?” he asked, desperately trying to change the subject.
“I am going to visit Gregory. There are some questions I have that he could answer. How about you?”
Remus pushed down the jealousy building in his stomach and smiled a bitter smile before he answered. “I need to werewolf proof the house. Will you be comfortable with our friends visiting us?”
Hermione paused, clearly embarrassed at forgetting her friends in the wizarding world in addition to what the full moon meant to Remus.
“Of course you can do what you have to do. I am sorry; I did not think about our friends,” she said, her face a Weasley-worthy red.
“You have a lot to deal with, love. I think that they will understand,” replied the werewolf.
“I have to go now or I will miss Gregory. I will talk to you later,” she said as she rose and kissed him on the cheek and left.
Remus rose and put his dishes in the sink before returning to the bathroom for a cold shower.
***
Regulus was staring at the ocean that stood between him and Azkaban Island. The only way that he could effectively buy time for Sirius and Rae was to break Rabastan out of jail. Barty could care less about the rest of the world, but if Rabastan was one of the few that knew that Barty was still functioning. It would be something that would get Barty’s attention and hopefully distract him long enough for Sirius to get Harry and Ginny out of harm’s way.
***
Hermione was standing in front of Gotham Hospital on her way to Danni’s room. The witch had checked Gregory’s boat first and found that he had already gone. Fred told her that Gregory had not set foot in the house he shared with Danni in two years. That left the hospital to check. The witch went down the hall to Danni’s room and saw doctors and Gregory pacing outside her room with a mixture of bewilderment and joy on his face.
“Gregory, what is going on?” asked Hermione with clear concern in her voice.
“The event I was waiting for. Danni is awake,” replied Gregory with a smile.
***
Stevie was laying on a couch on Toni’s boat, a type of refuge from the world. Stevie finally told Toni with great reluctance what she had seen, knowing that Toni had the right to know. Toni had gone to see Georgie to share the news and to discuss how it impacted their course of action Now they had to find Ethan to know exactly what he gave Hermione to try and figure out the cure. Her thoughts were interrupted by Ethan himself as he came on the boat and said, “We need to talk.”
***
To Sirius’s surprise, Rae did not need much convincing. She appeared to know about the wizarding world already and followed him and Draco to Grimmauld Place. It was a joyous reunion with Harry, Tonks and Remus who had returned to the house for some spells to protect Hermione during his transformation. Charlie and Fleur had arrived that very day to support Remus during this troubled time. After the hellos and introductions, Kingsley presented them with the memories given to him by a friend of Hermione’s. When Madame Maxine took over Dumbledore’s position after his death she gave his pensive to Harry, who left the pensive in the drawing room when Remus bought the house. The group moved to the drawing room viewing the memories of a man named Ethan Rayne.
Ethan Rayne, with glowing gold eyes, brainwashing Peter Pettigrew to betray the Potters and frame Sirius…
…Ethan’s horror when he woke the next day and realized that members of the Bowen and Granger families, including what appeared to be Hermione’s grandmother and sister were amoung the dead that Sirius was framed for…
…The presumed deaths of Deidre and the children…
…Regret as Remus goes half mad with grief and leaves civilization for years…
… Ethan telling Hermione she is a witch and giving her “Hogwarts a History” and teaching her all forms of teleportation that she uses for the rest of her life…
…Going into Hermione’s room and putting a Saint Christopher medal at her bedside and kissing her goodbye, unable to watch the end...Being offered a job in England and reconnecting with the Grangers, realizing that Remi survived…
…Starting to notice the Grangers acting strangely…
…Having a bad feeling and calling Ned to check up on Hermione…
… Ned and Ethan standing on a boat having a conversation
“Brad hit Hermione?” asked Ethan in a disbelieving tone
“Yes I would not have belived it if I did not see it. He and Dom were under some sort of Imperious curse. Hermione is staying with my mum until the Weasleys take her to the Cup”
“and the Grangers?”
“Dad is taking them to Devon to cure them and sort out what happened”
…Ethan was sitting in the back office of his bar” Deidre’s” a bar that he kept to supplement his income when he sees Brad Granger during the off hours.
“Can I come in?” Brad asked in cool, almost cold tone that is rather unlike him.
He shrugs and motions him in .He is taking a sip of his brandy and drops it in shock when he sees Brad Granger morph into Regulus Black
“Bloody hell, Black! I really hate it when you do that! What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be playing dead?”
“That was the plan, Lestrange. Crouch, however, will not let me. He is calling in one of the favors that I owe him”
“My name is Rains, Black! How many times do I have to say that? I was never raised a Lestrange I do not count myself as one!. Now tell me what does Barty want and what does it do with me?”
“Crouch wants me to help him get Moody out of the way and provide an escape route in the case of an emergency”
“Ah the point emerges. You think that I would know the secret passageways to hide or escape if something goes wrong because of my former friendships with Pettigrew, Lupin, Potter and your brother
“Yes,” the other wizard replied.
“He was your brother, Regulus.”
“Yes by blood. Sirius and James were more like brothers than Sirius and I. Sirius made it perfectly clear I do not exist to him anymore when he left the family”
Ethan sighs. “Alright but on one condition.”
“What is that?” Black asks in an apprehensive voice.
“That whatever happens, you will not let any harm come to Hermione Granger.”
Ethan pauses then asks in a concerned tone “How do you know what Brad Granger looks like? You’ve never met him, and I certainly never showed any pictures of him to you.”
“I was forced to take his shape and curse his wife to cover the fact that he was found dead. It would not be good for the plan if Grangers death was realized too soon.”
Black then has a look on his face like he said something that he should not.
Ethan’s hands balled into furious fists by his side as he shouted, “WHAT THE BLOODY HELL HAPPENED, BLACK?”
“Even if I knew, he could kill me if I told you.
Ethan grabs him by the collar and throws him against the wall.
“I WILL BE THE ONE TO KILL YOU IF YOU DO NOT TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED. I PULLED YOU FROM THE GRAVE, AND I CAN PUT YOU BACK IN JUST AS EASILY’
“IT WAS NOT ME! HE WAS ALREADY DEAD WHEN I FOUND HIM!” I was investigating the family for Crouch. Brad was perfectly placed being married to Thomasina Bowen!
Ethan relaxed his grip clearly confused. Ethan looked as though he was working something out in him brain.
“I had forgotten that Dom’s given name was Thomasina Bowen. What the fucking hell does Dom Granger have to do with anything?”
“Barty believes her to be descended from the Griffin Witches.”
… Ethan stands in a backroom in the DADA officer frozen in horror. Ethan sees that Moody was out of potion, forcing Barty to morph into his true self in the presence of a shocked Hermione. Regulus holds the witch down while Crouch tears open her blouse and digs his fingers deep into her heart.
“Wait,” asks Regulus hesitantly. “Are you sure this is the only way? Finding a dead student in the halls of Hogwarts right now would alert the Aurors something is really wrong and most have no clue what you have done,. You are dead as far as the world knows, and the only one that does know is your house-elf and she bound by magic to say nothing. The plan to escape needs two people to perform it. We can use her and Obliviate her memory, and no one would be the wiser.
Ethan pulls out his wand from his back pocket, ready to take them both down if Regulus fails to convince Crouch. Crouch pauses for a moment then he removes his hand from Hermione. “Do it, but make no mistake, Regulus, if anything goes wrong she is as good as dead.”…
Sneaking into Hermione’s room to erase Hermione’s memory, Ethan is surprised when Hermione turns to him, still awake.
“You’ve came to kill me, haven’t you? Alright then, go ahead. I only ask that my parents be spared and there be no mess. My family has seen enough of those,” she says in a strangely calm voice.
“I prefer not to hurt you. I rather like you. Unfortunately I have to hurt you a little bit to save you and my daughter. You saw things you should not have; believe me, things will be easier if you forget for now.”
“You have a daughter? You never spoke about her before,” said Hermione in a surprised tone of voice..
“No one knows of her existence to protect her from my enemies,” replies Ethan.
“You never quit the black magic, did you?” says Hermione in a tone that is a statement and not a question.
Hermione’s face registers understanding when he says nothing. Then her expression changes to confusion and surprise when she sees a needle instead of a wand. Before she can ask any questions he pinches her neck to cause paralysis before he injected the home made potion and holds her as the potion takes effect…
….Ethan closely watches Hermione to see if any symptoms of the Black Hand Curse present themselves. Strangely it did not start to manifest itself for a month. However, he had to watch Hermione suffer another way when she came under suspicion for her involvement with Sirius Black. The photographs of her with Sirius in her grandfather’s abandoned lodge and the taped conversations of calls from a public phone were clearly forged, and no one who knew her believed these accusations. However, when Bo caught Hermione destroying the pictures and tapes , their faith was shaken. Ethan came to Hermione’s home one evening to find Gregory there, holding her by the arms and shaking her. “Where is Black, Remi? I know you know where he is.”
“I can’t. Stop it, Gregory. You’re hurting me,” cries the witch as her cousin grips her so hard he is bruising her.
“I think you ought to let go of her, Vincent, before I make you,” says Ethan in a deadly calm voice. Gregory turns to Ethan and turns back to Hermione. He lets go of her and looks at his hands, startled at what he has done then runs out of the house as though the devil himself is chasing him.
Ethan sees the pain and conflict in Hermione’s face before she confesses what he has always known.
“I helped Sirius escape the Aurors two years ago.” She goes into the story of the time-turner and Buckbeak.
“No wonder Gregory was upset. He has been out for Black’s blood for years,” says Ethan after a pause.
“Why?”
“His pregnant first wife, Tessa, was one of the victims of the explosion he supposedly murdered among...others.” Hermione pales with shock at the information and Ethan takes her arm and sits her down at the table.
“So you never assisted Black in the muggle world?” asks the wizard.
“Aside from lying to Reggie, Danni, Nadia and Zoe and using Frankie to get rid of leads on his whereabouts, no,” answers Hermione in a bitter tone.
Ethan takes her in his arms and hugs her. “I know this is unfair, Remi, but it is the best for everyone to keep Sirius away from Reggie. Fred and Mike will sort this all out; you will see the end before you know it.”
…Ethan is devastated as he sees the marks and symptoms of the curse finally manifest.
Hermione is lying on her bed in only her robe while Ethan examines an injury she received by falling down the stairs. He wants to be sure that Hermione does not have any internal injures.
“Alright, Hermione, you can cover up now.” He turns his back to her, not wanting to frighten her with his dark expression.
“Ethan, why won’t you look at me?” asks Remi in a hurt, confused tone.
“How long has that hand print been on you, Hermione?” he asks, terrified of the answer but needing to know.
“Oh, this? It came out of nowhere this morning. Come to think of it, I have been feeling pain for a good deal of the day. Is it bad, Ethan?”
“Yes, Hermione, it is.”…
…Ethan and Hermione are in a back room. Hermione is holding the mask and robes of a Death Eater, frozen in shock.
Ethan sits down next to her and says, “I expect it is time for the truth,” before he confesses to everything, with the exception of who his daughter is. Hermione punches him in the jaw and leaves, cutting off all contact with Ethan for months…
…Ethan is standing at Ripper’s side as they find Rhiannon’s body and the bodies of their old mates...
…Ethan steps back, allowing Ripper to inform Hermione of her godmother’s death…
…Following Hermione as she goes to her family boat and finds her father’s body stuffed in the freezer...Watching her heartbreaking sobs and watching her struggle with the choice not to tell anyone, knowing that whoever is impersonating her father could hurt her mother…
…Regulus approaches Ethan again on the Bowen family plot.
“What are you doing here Black?”asks Ethan.
“I can’t repay Dru for convincing you Lestranges to help me out of my grave. However, I can repay her by saving someone she cared for.”
“What are you going on about, Black?”
“I found a way to save Sirius, but I need your help.”
…Standing in a circle with Regulus and Barty saving Sirius from the veil by a forbidden black ceremony, who came out naked and half crazed… Regulus taking his arm as he left Barty’s home. “ I know you are hurting without Hermione. I suggest you tell her the truth about everything. It just might get her back on your side.”
“I don’t know the whole truth, Black. I only have suspicions.”
“So arrange it so she does know the whole truth,” replied the other wizard with a shrug.
“Why do you care?” asked Ethan.
“It would be what Dru would want.”
… He writes a letter to Hermione under the name “Snuffles” and he places an anonymous phone call to Ripper stating, “She knows everything”
…He is heartbroken to see how badly she is doing without him. She is wearing a denim skirt and a man’s shirt, possibly Ned’s. He is staying at her house more and more lately. There are dark circles under her eyes, and he can smell alcohol on her. Hermione had a tough time in her fifth year defending herself against Death Eaters, and the guilt surrounding Sirius’s death. Hermione had believed that Sirius imprisoned by Death Eaters was a trap but never acted on it. Sirius came with the Order members to rescue them and was killed in the process.
She reluctantly lets Ethan in knowing if he was right about what had happened they would need to talk. Ethan he hides when he hears Ripper at the door. “Damn it, Remi! Let me in. All I want to do is talk!” Hermione opens the door and motions him to the living room of the house. He removes his glasses and rubbed his forehead before he sits down in the nearest chair while Hermione sits on the nearest sofa.
Hermione waits as though she somehow knew what Ripper was going to say
He looked at his hands in front of him; Ripper could not look at her in his shame.
Then he confesses what Ethan told her the night she found the Death Eater mask as well as additional information that shocked Ethan
“As I told you when you were young, there are many forces, beings and worlds other than those in the Wizarding world. There are many organizations that follow supernatural beings and phenomena, the one I was born into is a group known as the Watchers. My family on my father’s side has been in this organization for generations. I was ten years old when my father told me of my eventual calling, and I hated it. The knowledge consumed me until it drove me to rebel against everything. I dropped out of Oxford and fell into the worst crowd that would have me. We delved into the dark arts for the pleasure of it, sometimes for profit. That is where I met Deirdre--Rhiannon as you now know her--as well as a few others, including Ethan.”
He pauses, self-hate evident on his face.
“Eventually we were employed by Death Eaters to do various errands and we took the jobs, eager to have money to support our various habits.”
“Where Aunt Rhiannon used her body to gain the majority of the information, having Leni, Stevie, Ned, Ryan and Rae along the way,” adds Hermione. Did she even know who the fathers were?”
“Yes. Lucius Malfoy is Leni’s. Regulus is Ned’s. Severus Snape is Stevie’s, and Remus Lupin is Ryan and Rae’s,” replies Ripper.
“Did she care for any of them at all?” asked Hermione.
“She never said the words, but I expect she truly cared for Remus. He was never on the list of those she was told to seduce,” replies Giles tiredly.
Tears prick her eyes for her friend Remus before she asks, “Do the fathers know?”
“No,” replies Rupert in the same tone of voice.
“They have a right to,”
“Yes, in normal circumstances, but in those times it was anything but normal. Hate, death, and dark magiks surrounded us. We were young, self-centered and so bloody ignorant of the magnitude of what we were doing. Deirdre cared enough to give her children the type of attention and love they needed. She sent them to live with someone no one would think to look for.
“The Order member Marlene McKinnon.”
“Yes. We had met her during our various missions, and Deirdre seemed to have bonded with her. “
“The mind control that you told me about once; it was done to Peter Pettigrew, wasn’t it?” asked Hermione
“Yes” he replied dully.
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Ethan never was the kind that would go into explanations. He was the kind that just did.”
“And it didn’t matter a damn to him that people he claimed to care for were killed by Pettigrew when he was framing Sirius?” asks Hermione in a tone that reflects her rage at the loss of her family.
“There is always a danger when you tamper with the mind. It makes the subject prone to acts of desperation, violence and self doubt. It inevitably manifests in harm to themselves or others. Facts I would have known if I had continued my training. I was a fool and just as responsible for what happened to your grandmother sister and the rest of your family.” Ethan can see Hermione lift her eyebrow at the other names mentioned. Ethan did not mention others when he told her what happened that night
Hermione does not seem to argue that point. Instead she asks, “If you knew about the mind control then you must have known Sirius was innocent. Why didn’t you say anything?”
Rupert gives a sigh. “I had to protect Ned, Riley, Shawn, Toni and Georgie.”
Hermione looks perplexed. “What do they have to do with this?”
“Georgie and Shawn are Ethan’s children by Narcissa Black and Bellatrix Lestrange. Toni and Reily are Sirius’s children by Bellatrix Lestrange and Marlene McKinnon. Somehow Marlene found out about Shawn, Toni, and Georgie and took them in. Reily was a product of Sirius’s affair with Marlene.”
Hermione opens and closes her mouth a couple of times, speechless in her astonishment.
She finally asks, “Toni and Georgie were born on the same day. Does that mean they are twins?”
“Yes.”
“How is that even possible?”
“It is rare but possible in fraternal twins to have the same mother but different fathers.
You have to understand, Remi. If Ned, Toni, Georgie, Reily, and Shawn where ever found out,Walburga Black would have claimed them. She would have raised them with her beliefs, making the sacrifices Sirius and Marlene made count for nothing. The other children would have been executed or sold into slavery or some other hellish existence. I do not know how Marlene knew her time was near, but she made preparations. She sent the children away and creation illusions to make everyone think that they were still there. She died herself protecting that secret so no one would be the wiser.”
Rupert closes his eyes for a moment before continuing. “My mate, Randall, died about the same time from a botched exorcism, a death that could have been prevented by completing my training. Combined with the bravery and selfless sacrifices of Marlene and Lily I gained the strength to return to my destiny to protect the innocent. I became protector and mentor to the children in their name; Hera Marlene became Leonora Matilda. Sedena Morrigan became Sophia Stephanieanna, and Robur Aiden became Reginald Borias. It broke Deirdre’s heart to separate Toni and Georgie, but they were powerful together; the risk of detecting them was too great.”
“What were the names that Marlene gave them?” asks Hermione in a curious voice.
“Shawn was given Scorpius Rigel. Reily was Ross Sirius. Georgie was Bellatrix Cassiopeia. Toni was Andromeda Cappella.”
Hermione laughs mirthlessly. “Constellations and stars; fitting for Black children.”
Then she adds, “Georgie went to my Aunt Theo, Shawn went to Aunt Mel, Reily went to Aunt Charlie and Toni to Aunt Andi.”
“Yes,” replies Giles simply.
“Do they know who their fathers and mothers are?” enquirers Hermione.
“No,” replies Ripper
“At this risk of repeating myself, they have a right to know,” Says Hermione.
“What good would that do? What is done is done. What would it achieve for them to know what their parents did to their family and each other? They are innocent and not responsible for their birth or family’s actions. Rhiannon and I decided they had a right to know of their gifts and to be taught how to handle them like we did with you. They did not need to know the rest. I married Deirdre briefly to give her children a name and fatherly guidance from time to time,” answers Ripper.
Ethan can see Hermione hug herself and hunch over, unable to hold back her tears anymore. He can see Ripper get out of his chair and go to her and try to comfort her. ‘”Don’t touch me. You knew what they were capable of. They hurt my parents. They will never be the same again.” She stops and unbuttons her blouse to show the ugly Black Hand. “They hurt me, cursed me to a fate that is worse than death. I trusted you to help me keep my family safe when I could not be around. I see now I can only trust myself. Leave and never come back.” Said Hermione in a voice full of rage
Giles rises and leaves mournfully without another word.
Ethan is numb with the shock of the knowledge he has more children and is an uncle but was never told. Ethan rises to go to the bar where he pours himself and Remi, a drink, removes a small sack of marijuana that he had hidden there years before and returns it to her. He gives her the drink and sits down besides her, removing a joints and lights it with the lighter in his pocket. He puts an arm around her and begins to smoke. Hermione says nothing she simply drinks the scotch he gives her.
“I am sorry Ethan.”
“It is alright love, it was for the best, I am not cut out to be a father”
“I still am mad at you. You should have told someone that you were possessed by your brother, or at least tried to help Sirius. I can’t even imagine what he was put through. I still have nightmares from my encounter in my third year and it was only one night.”
“Love I tried, James and Lily were my friends but Sirius was already shipped of to jail. I knew that if I tried anything I risked the secret being exposed. Ripper was right Sirius would not want his children subjected to that kind of life; However Ripper is still is a berk for not telling me about my children.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that my sister and grandmother were not the only ones that were killed in the explosion?”
“I know how hard the subject of your grandfather is”
Hermione looked perplexed “What does that have to do with anything?” she asked
“The death of your grandmother sister, Aunt Michaela, Aunt Leonora, Aunt Stephanieanna, Aunt Henrietta ,Aunt Gorgianna and your Uncle Kennith devastated him greatly. He was also greatly disturbed by the deaths of your father’s side of the family your uncle Jason, aunt Helen and uncle Paris. Even Gregory was there escorting Tessa to a wedding. He tried to move on with Caroline but in the end the grief was too great. I don’t have to tell you what happened next”
Hermione stayed quit for a long time before she asked
“Can anyone do anything to help Peter?”
“I don’t know. It probably will be next to impossible now that he is with you-know who”
Her brow furrows as she realized something that could not be possible. “How on earth did Gregory survive the explosion if everyone else died?” asks Hermione in a confused voice.
“Didn’t Gregory tell you that he is a sorcerer?” asks Ethan.
“No, the subject never came up,” replies Remi.
“He was and still is an expert in martial arts. One of his gifts was to turn his body to stone with tremendous concentration. They of course tried to modify his memory of the events but it didn’t work. What the pompous berks at the Ministry could not comprehend was that you can’t modify the mind of a sorcerer. It would not work. Gregory has never forgotten what happened to Tessa and is quite frankly slightly off his rocker because of it. He is not finished with planning his revenge; you can mark my words on that.”…
…He is disturbed when he sees the changes in Bo and follows him to the Granger house…
…He hears a scream and a gunshot and runs to the house. He runs inside to find Remi and Rae in the bathroom and Bo on the floor with a gunshot wound to the head. Hermione is disheveled and shaking Rae was in the corner near catatonic. The witch flinches when he touches her and crawls a little farther from him.
“Hermione, love, you need help. You need to go to casualty” he said as gently as possible
“No.”
“ Love you need medical attention, at least let me call Max.”
“No, Ethan. They will want to know what happened. I can’t let Max or Leni know Rae shot Bo because he tried to rape me. It was not him, Ethan.”
…He helps Hermione making it look like an accident. He is saddened when Rae leaves home, unable to deal with what had happened…
…He comforts Hermione when the body of her Uncle Basil is found after the tragic Zoe’s tragic car accident…
…He calms Hermione when she is racked with guilt when Danni was injured in a boating accident. Hermione never goes into detail, but it is clear to Ethan that they knew something that they should not have and were silenced…
…He hears a hard, impatient banging on his flat door. He opens it to an angry and drunk Ripper. Ripper does not speak as he takes him by the neck with the intent to kill. Ethan struggles out of his grip and asks in a mocking tone “Ripper old boy you must be distressed you usually ask questions before trying to kill me.”
“How dare you touch Hermione. How dare you force her” his words were cut short by Ethan punching Ripper in the face “ How dare you accuse me of forcing her! I love her you bastard! You stand there high and mighty protector of the innocent. Never forget that you were not so innocent. Tell me Ripper are you angry that I tasted her magic or that I tasted it before you did?” Ripper was so enraged that he took a knife and stuck it into his stomach…
The sound of a house-elf…
the face of Adda Zabini
…Total blackness….
Remus woke with a start, shaking from emotions that were not his, alone, surrounded by his release. He sat up, trying to figure out where Hermione had gone off to. He picked up the scent of eggs and teas from downstairs and wetness coming from the bathroom. Remus dragged himself out of bed to the bathroom to pull himself together. He showered and dressed in slacks, a button-down shirt and a cardigan sweater. Showers always managed to calm him down, but he still felt unsettled from the dream last night. He had a feeling that the dreams were covering truths that Hermione was unable to process or deal with. When he went downstairs to bid her good morning Hermione gave him an awkward smile before she motioned him to sit down and put breakfast in front of him. “Good morning, love,” replied Remus The witch was already dressed in a white, open neck sweater and a pair of jeans
“Good morning, Remus,” she answered, not looking him in the eye.
Hermione awoke that morning in bed with Remus, his head on her heart; her right breast was exposed, his obvious hardness pressing into her back. Hermione gently rolled him over, left the bed and went to the bathroom. Remus sure knew what he was doing; she felt like she was about to explode. She ran the shower and lay in the bathtub, touching herself, releasing the pressure that was building in her core.
Remus saw Hermione turn and look at him strangely. He smiled at her reassuringly and lowered his eyes to his food, shifting uncomfortably in his seat from his normal reaction to her.
“What are you doing today?” he asked, desperately trying to change the subject.
“I am going to visit Gregory. There are some questions I have that he could answer. How about you?”
Remus pushed down the jealousy building in his stomach and smiled a bitter smile before he answered. “I need to werewolf proof the house. Will you be comfortable with our friends visiting us?”
Hermione paused, clearly embarrassed at forgetting her friends in the wizarding world in addition to what the full moon meant to Remus.
“Of course you can do what you have to do. I am sorry; I did not think about our friends,” she said, her face a Weasley-worthy red.
“You have a lot to deal with, love. I think that they will understand,” replied the werewolf.
“I have to go now or I will miss Gregory. I will talk to you later,” she said as she rose and kissed him on the cheek and left.
Remus rose and put his dishes in the sink before returning to the bathroom for a cold shower.
***
Regulus was staring at the ocean that stood between him and Azkaban Island. The only way that he could effectively buy time for Sirius and Rae was to break Rabastan out of jail. Barty could care less about the rest of the world, but if Rabastan was one of the few that knew that Barty was still functioning. It would be something that would get Barty’s attention and hopefully distract him long enough for Sirius to get Harry and Ginny out of harm’s way.
***
Hermione was standing in front of Gotham Hospital on her way to Danni’s room. The witch had checked Gregory’s boat first and found that he had already gone. Fred told her that Gregory had not set foot in the house he shared with Danni in two years. That left the hospital to check. The witch went down the hall to Danni’s room and saw doctors and Gregory pacing outside her room with a mixture of bewilderment and joy on his face.
“Gregory, what is going on?” asked Hermione with clear concern in her voice.
“The event I was waiting for. Danni is awake,” replied Gregory with a smile.
***
Stevie was laying on a couch on Toni’s boat, a type of refuge from the world. Stevie finally told Toni with great reluctance what she had seen, knowing that Toni had the right to know. Toni had gone to see Georgie to share the news and to discuss how it impacted their course of action Now they had to find Ethan to know exactly what he gave Hermione to try and figure out the cure. Her thoughts were interrupted by Ethan himself as he came on the boat and said, “We need to talk.”
***
To Sirius’s surprise, Rae did not need much convincing. She appeared to know about the wizarding world already and followed him and Draco to Grimmauld Place. It was a joyous reunion with Harry, Tonks and Remus who had returned to the house for some spells to protect Hermione during his transformation. Charlie and Fleur had arrived that very day to support Remus during this troubled time. After the hellos and introductions, Kingsley presented them with the memories given to him by a friend of Hermione’s. When Madame Maxine took over Dumbledore’s position after his death she gave his pensive to Harry, who left the pensive in the drawing room when Remus bought the house. The group moved to the drawing room viewing the memories of a man named Ethan Rayne.
Ethan Rayne, with glowing gold eyes, brainwashing Peter Pettigrew to betray the Potters and frame Sirius…
…Ethan’s horror when he woke the next day and realized that members of the Bowen and Granger families, including what appeared to be Hermione’s grandmother and sister were amoung the dead that Sirius was framed for…
…The presumed deaths of Deidre and the children…
…Regret as Remus goes half mad with grief and leaves civilization for years…
… Ethan telling Hermione she is a witch and giving her “Hogwarts a History” and teaching her all forms of teleportation that she uses for the rest of her life…
…Going into Hermione’s room and putting a Saint Christopher medal at her bedside and kissing her goodbye, unable to watch the end...Being offered a job in England and reconnecting with the Grangers, realizing that Remi survived…
…Starting to notice the Grangers acting strangely…
…Having a bad feeling and calling Ned to check up on Hermione…
… Ned and Ethan standing on a boat having a conversation
“Brad hit Hermione?” asked Ethan in a disbelieving tone
“Yes I would not have belived it if I did not see it. He and Dom were under some sort of Imperious curse. Hermione is staying with my mum until the Weasleys take her to the Cup”
“and the Grangers?”
“Dad is taking them to Devon to cure them and sort out what happened”
…Ethan was sitting in the back office of his bar” Deidre’s” a bar that he kept to supplement his income when he sees Brad Granger during the off hours.
“Can I come in?” Brad asked in cool, almost cold tone that is rather unlike him.
He shrugs and motions him in .He is taking a sip of his brandy and drops it in shock when he sees Brad Granger morph into Regulus Black
“Bloody hell, Black! I really hate it when you do that! What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be playing dead?”
“That was the plan, Lestrange. Crouch, however, will not let me. He is calling in one of the favors that I owe him”
“My name is Rains, Black! How many times do I have to say that? I was never raised a Lestrange I do not count myself as one!. Now tell me what does Barty want and what does it do with me?”
“Crouch wants me to help him get Moody out of the way and provide an escape route in the case of an emergency”
“Ah the point emerges. You think that I would know the secret passageways to hide or escape if something goes wrong because of my former friendships with Pettigrew, Lupin, Potter and your brother
“Yes,” the other wizard replied.
“He was your brother, Regulus.”
“Yes by blood. Sirius and James were more like brothers than Sirius and I. Sirius made it perfectly clear I do not exist to him anymore when he left the family”
Ethan sighs. “Alright but on one condition.”
“What is that?” Black asks in an apprehensive voice.
“That whatever happens, you will not let any harm come to Hermione Granger.”
Ethan pauses then asks in a concerned tone “How do you know what Brad Granger looks like? You’ve never met him, and I certainly never showed any pictures of him to you.”
“I was forced to take his shape and curse his wife to cover the fact that he was found dead. It would not be good for the plan if Grangers death was realized too soon.”
Black then has a look on his face like he said something that he should not.
Ethan’s hands balled into furious fists by his side as he shouted, “WHAT THE BLOODY HELL HAPPENED, BLACK?”
“Even if I knew, he could kill me if I told you.
Ethan grabs him by the collar and throws him against the wall.
“I WILL BE THE ONE TO KILL YOU IF YOU DO NOT TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED. I PULLED YOU FROM THE GRAVE, AND I CAN PUT YOU BACK IN JUST AS EASILY’
“IT WAS NOT ME! HE WAS ALREADY DEAD WHEN I FOUND HIM!” I was investigating the family for Crouch. Brad was perfectly placed being married to Thomasina Bowen!
Ethan relaxed his grip clearly confused. Ethan looked as though he was working something out in him brain.
“I had forgotten that Dom’s given name was Thomasina Bowen. What the fucking hell does Dom Granger have to do with anything?”
“Barty believes her to be descended from the Griffin Witches.”
… Ethan stands in a backroom in the DADA officer frozen in horror. Ethan sees that Moody was out of potion, forcing Barty to morph into his true self in the presence of a shocked Hermione. Regulus holds the witch down while Crouch tears open her blouse and digs his fingers deep into her heart.
“Wait,” asks Regulus hesitantly. “Are you sure this is the only way? Finding a dead student in the halls of Hogwarts right now would alert the Aurors something is really wrong and most have no clue what you have done,. You are dead as far as the world knows, and the only one that does know is your house-elf and she bound by magic to say nothing. The plan to escape needs two people to perform it. We can use her and Obliviate her memory, and no one would be the wiser.
Ethan pulls out his wand from his back pocket, ready to take them both down if Regulus fails to convince Crouch. Crouch pauses for a moment then he removes his hand from Hermione. “Do it, but make no mistake, Regulus, if anything goes wrong she is as good as dead.”…
Sneaking into Hermione’s room to erase Hermione’s memory, Ethan is surprised when Hermione turns to him, still awake.
“You’ve came to kill me, haven’t you? Alright then, go ahead. I only ask that my parents be spared and there be no mess. My family has seen enough of those,” she says in a strangely calm voice.
“I prefer not to hurt you. I rather like you. Unfortunately I have to hurt you a little bit to save you and my daughter. You saw things you should not have; believe me, things will be easier if you forget for now.”
“You have a daughter? You never spoke about her before,” said Hermione in a surprised tone of voice..
“No one knows of her existence to protect her from my enemies,” replies Ethan.
“You never quit the black magic, did you?” says Hermione in a tone that is a statement and not a question.
Hermione’s face registers understanding when he says nothing. Then her expression changes to confusion and surprise when she sees a needle instead of a wand. Before she can ask any questions he pinches her neck to cause paralysis before he injected the home made potion and holds her as the potion takes effect…
….Ethan closely watches Hermione to see if any symptoms of the Black Hand Curse present themselves. Strangely it did not start to manifest itself for a month. However, he had to watch Hermione suffer another way when she came under suspicion for her involvement with Sirius Black. The photographs of her with Sirius in her grandfather’s abandoned lodge and the taped conversations of calls from a public phone were clearly forged, and no one who knew her believed these accusations. However, when Bo caught Hermione destroying the pictures and tapes , their faith was shaken. Ethan came to Hermione’s home one evening to find Gregory there, holding her by the arms and shaking her. “Where is Black, Remi? I know you know where he is.”
“I can’t. Stop it, Gregory. You’re hurting me,” cries the witch as her cousin grips her so hard he is bruising her.
“I think you ought to let go of her, Vincent, before I make you,” says Ethan in a deadly calm voice. Gregory turns to Ethan and turns back to Hermione. He lets go of her and looks at his hands, startled at what he has done then runs out of the house as though the devil himself is chasing him.
Ethan sees the pain and conflict in Hermione’s face before she confesses what he has always known.
“I helped Sirius escape the Aurors two years ago.” She goes into the story of the time-turner and Buckbeak.
“No wonder Gregory was upset. He has been out for Black’s blood for years,” says Ethan after a pause.
“Why?”
“His pregnant first wife, Tessa, was one of the victims of the explosion he supposedly murdered among...others.” Hermione pales with shock at the information and Ethan takes her arm and sits her down at the table.
“So you never assisted Black in the muggle world?” asks the wizard.
“Aside from lying to Reggie, Danni, Nadia and Zoe and using Frankie to get rid of leads on his whereabouts, no,” answers Hermione in a bitter tone.
Ethan takes her in his arms and hugs her. “I know this is unfair, Remi, but it is the best for everyone to keep Sirius away from Reggie. Fred and Mike will sort this all out; you will see the end before you know it.”
…Ethan is devastated as he sees the marks and symptoms of the curse finally manifest.
Hermione is lying on her bed in only her robe while Ethan examines an injury she received by falling down the stairs. He wants to be sure that Hermione does not have any internal injures.
“Alright, Hermione, you can cover up now.” He turns his back to her, not wanting to frighten her with his dark expression.
“Ethan, why won’t you look at me?” asks Remi in a hurt, confused tone.
“How long has that hand print been on you, Hermione?” he asks, terrified of the answer but needing to know.
“Oh, this? It came out of nowhere this morning. Come to think of it, I have been feeling pain for a good deal of the day. Is it bad, Ethan?”
“Yes, Hermione, it is.”…
…Ethan and Hermione are in a back room. Hermione is holding the mask and robes of a Death Eater, frozen in shock.
Ethan sits down next to her and says, “I expect it is time for the truth,” before he confesses to everything, with the exception of who his daughter is. Hermione punches him in the jaw and leaves, cutting off all contact with Ethan for months…
…Ethan is standing at Ripper’s side as they find Rhiannon’s body and the bodies of their old mates...
…Ethan steps back, allowing Ripper to inform Hermione of her godmother’s death…
…Following Hermione as she goes to her family boat and finds her father’s body stuffed in the freezer...Watching her heartbreaking sobs and watching her struggle with the choice not to tell anyone, knowing that whoever is impersonating her father could hurt her mother…
…Regulus approaches Ethan again on the Bowen family plot.
“What are you doing here Black?”asks Ethan.
“I can’t repay Dru for convincing you Lestranges to help me out of my grave. However, I can repay her by saving someone she cared for.”
“What are you going on about, Black?”
“I found a way to save Sirius, but I need your help.”
…Standing in a circle with Regulus and Barty saving Sirius from the veil by a forbidden black ceremony, who came out naked and half crazed… Regulus taking his arm as he left Barty’s home. “ I know you are hurting without Hermione. I suggest you tell her the truth about everything. It just might get her back on your side.”
“I don’t know the whole truth, Black. I only have suspicions.”
“So arrange it so she does know the whole truth,” replied the other wizard with a shrug.
“Why do you care?” asked Ethan.
“It would be what Dru would want.”
… He writes a letter to Hermione under the name “Snuffles” and he places an anonymous phone call to Ripper stating, “She knows everything”
…He is heartbroken to see how badly she is doing without him. She is wearing a denim skirt and a man’s shirt, possibly Ned’s. He is staying at her house more and more lately. There are dark circles under her eyes, and he can smell alcohol on her. Hermione had a tough time in her fifth year defending herself against Death Eaters, and the guilt surrounding Sirius’s death. Hermione had believed that Sirius imprisoned by Death Eaters was a trap but never acted on it. Sirius came with the Order members to rescue them and was killed in the process.
She reluctantly lets Ethan in knowing if he was right about what had happened they would need to talk. Ethan he hides when he hears Ripper at the door. “Damn it, Remi! Let me in. All I want to do is talk!” Hermione opens the door and motions him to the living room of the house. He removes his glasses and rubbed his forehead before he sits down in the nearest chair while Hermione sits on the nearest sofa.
Hermione waits as though she somehow knew what Ripper was going to say
He looked at his hands in front of him; Ripper could not look at her in his shame.
Then he confesses what Ethan told her the night she found the Death Eater mask as well as additional information that shocked Ethan
“As I told you when you were young, there are many forces, beings and worlds other than those in the Wizarding world. There are many organizations that follow supernatural beings and phenomena, the one I was born into is a group known as the Watchers. My family on my father’s side has been in this organization for generations. I was ten years old when my father told me of my eventual calling, and I hated it. The knowledge consumed me until it drove me to rebel against everything. I dropped out of Oxford and fell into the worst crowd that would have me. We delved into the dark arts for the pleasure of it, sometimes for profit. That is where I met Deirdre--Rhiannon as you now know her--as well as a few others, including Ethan.”
He pauses, self-hate evident on his face.
“Eventually we were employed by Death Eaters to do various errands and we took the jobs, eager to have money to support our various habits.”
“Where Aunt Rhiannon used her body to gain the majority of the information, having Leni, Stevie, Ned, Ryan and Rae along the way,” adds Hermione. Did she even know who the fathers were?”
“Yes. Lucius Malfoy is Leni’s. Regulus is Ned’s. Severus Snape is Stevie’s, and Remus Lupin is Ryan and Rae’s,” replies Ripper.
“Did she care for any of them at all?” asked Hermione.
“She never said the words, but I expect she truly cared for Remus. He was never on the list of those she was told to seduce,” replies Giles tiredly.
Tears prick her eyes for her friend Remus before she asks, “Do the fathers know?”
“No,” replies Rupert in the same tone of voice.
“They have a right to,”
“Yes, in normal circumstances, but in those times it was anything but normal. Hate, death, and dark magiks surrounded us. We were young, self-centered and so bloody ignorant of the magnitude of what we were doing. Deirdre cared enough to give her children the type of attention and love they needed. She sent them to live with someone no one would think to look for.
“The Order member Marlene McKinnon.”
“Yes. We had met her during our various missions, and Deirdre seemed to have bonded with her. “
“The mind control that you told me about once; it was done to Peter Pettigrew, wasn’t it?” asked Hermione
“Yes” he replied dully.
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Ethan never was the kind that would go into explanations. He was the kind that just did.”
“And it didn’t matter a damn to him that people he claimed to care for were killed by Pettigrew when he was framing Sirius?” asks Hermione in a tone that reflects her rage at the loss of her family.
“There is always a danger when you tamper with the mind. It makes the subject prone to acts of desperation, violence and self doubt. It inevitably manifests in harm to themselves or others. Facts I would have known if I had continued my training. I was a fool and just as responsible for what happened to your grandmother sister and the rest of your family.” Ethan can see Hermione lift her eyebrow at the other names mentioned. Ethan did not mention others when he told her what happened that night
Hermione does not seem to argue that point. Instead she asks, “If you knew about the mind control then you must have known Sirius was innocent. Why didn’t you say anything?”
Rupert gives a sigh. “I had to protect Ned, Riley, Shawn, Toni and Georgie.”
Hermione looks perplexed. “What do they have to do with this?”
“Georgie and Shawn are Ethan’s children by Narcissa Black and Bellatrix Lestrange. Toni and Reily are Sirius’s children by Bellatrix Lestrange and Marlene McKinnon. Somehow Marlene found out about Shawn, Toni, and Georgie and took them in. Reily was a product of Sirius’s affair with Marlene.”
Hermione opens and closes her mouth a couple of times, speechless in her astonishment.
She finally asks, “Toni and Georgie were born on the same day. Does that mean they are twins?”
“Yes.”
“How is that even possible?”
“It is rare but possible in fraternal twins to have the same mother but different fathers.
You have to understand, Remi. If Ned, Toni, Georgie, Reily, and Shawn where ever found out,Walburga Black would have claimed them. She would have raised them with her beliefs, making the sacrifices Sirius and Marlene made count for nothing. The other children would have been executed or sold into slavery or some other hellish existence. I do not know how Marlene knew her time was near, but she made preparations. She sent the children away and creation illusions to make everyone think that they were still there. She died herself protecting that secret so no one would be the wiser.”
Rupert closes his eyes for a moment before continuing. “My mate, Randall, died about the same time from a botched exorcism, a death that could have been prevented by completing my training. Combined with the bravery and selfless sacrifices of Marlene and Lily I gained the strength to return to my destiny to protect the innocent. I became protector and mentor to the children in their name; Hera Marlene became Leonora Matilda. Sedena Morrigan became Sophia Stephanieanna, and Robur Aiden became Reginald Borias. It broke Deirdre’s heart to separate Toni and Georgie, but they were powerful together; the risk of detecting them was too great.”
“What were the names that Marlene gave them?” asks Hermione in a curious voice.
“Shawn was given Scorpius Rigel. Reily was Ross Sirius. Georgie was Bellatrix Cassiopeia. Toni was Andromeda Cappella.”
Hermione laughs mirthlessly. “Constellations and stars; fitting for Black children.”
Then she adds, “Georgie went to my Aunt Theo, Shawn went to Aunt Mel, Reily went to Aunt Charlie and Toni to Aunt Andi.”
“Yes,” replies Giles simply.
“Do they know who their fathers and mothers are?” enquirers Hermione.
“No,” replies Ripper
“At this risk of repeating myself, they have a right to know,” Says Hermione.
“What good would that do? What is done is done. What would it achieve for them to know what their parents did to their family and each other? They are innocent and not responsible for their birth or family’s actions. Rhiannon and I decided they had a right to know of their gifts and to be taught how to handle them like we did with you. They did not need to know the rest. I married Deirdre briefly to give her children a name and fatherly guidance from time to time,” answers Ripper.
Ethan can see Hermione hug herself and hunch over, unable to hold back her tears anymore. He can see Ripper get out of his chair and go to her and try to comfort her. ‘”Don’t touch me. You knew what they were capable of. They hurt my parents. They will never be the same again.” She stops and unbuttons her blouse to show the ugly Black Hand. “They hurt me, cursed me to a fate that is worse than death. I trusted you to help me keep my family safe when I could not be around. I see now I can only trust myself. Leave and never come back.” Said Hermione in a voice full of rage
Giles rises and leaves mournfully without another word.
Ethan is numb with the shock of the knowledge he has more children and is an uncle but was never told. Ethan rises to go to the bar where he pours himself and Remi, a drink, removes a small sack of marijuana that he had hidden there years before and returns it to her. He gives her the drink and sits down besides her, removing a joints and lights it with the lighter in his pocket. He puts an arm around her and begins to smoke. Hermione says nothing she simply drinks the scotch he gives her.
“I am sorry Ethan.”
“It is alright love, it was for the best, I am not cut out to be a father”
“I still am mad at you. You should have told someone that you were possessed by your brother, or at least tried to help Sirius. I can’t even imagine what he was put through. I still have nightmares from my encounter in my third year and it was only one night.”
“Love I tried, James and Lily were my friends but Sirius was already shipped of to jail. I knew that if I tried anything I risked the secret being exposed. Ripper was right Sirius would not want his children subjected to that kind of life; However Ripper is still is a berk for not telling me about my children.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that my sister and grandmother were not the only ones that were killed in the explosion?”
“I know how hard the subject of your grandfather is”
Hermione looked perplexed “What does that have to do with anything?” she asked
“The death of your grandmother sister, Aunt Michaela, Aunt Leonora, Aunt Stephanieanna, Aunt Henrietta ,Aunt Gorgianna and your Uncle Kennith devastated him greatly. He was also greatly disturbed by the deaths of your father’s side of the family your uncle Jason, aunt Helen and uncle Paris. Even Gregory was there escorting Tessa to a wedding. He tried to move on with Caroline but in the end the grief was too great. I don’t have to tell you what happened next”
Hermione stayed quit for a long time before she asked
“Can anyone do anything to help Peter?”
“I don’t know. It probably will be next to impossible now that he is with you-know who”
Her brow furrows as she realized something that could not be possible. “How on earth did Gregory survive the explosion if everyone else died?” asks Hermione in a confused voice.
“Didn’t Gregory tell you that he is a sorcerer?” asks Ethan.
“No, the subject never came up,” replies Remi.
“He was and still is an expert in martial arts. One of his gifts was to turn his body to stone with tremendous concentration. They of course tried to modify his memory of the events but it didn’t work. What the pompous berks at the Ministry could not comprehend was that you can’t modify the mind of a sorcerer. It would not work. Gregory has never forgotten what happened to Tessa and is quite frankly slightly off his rocker because of it. He is not finished with planning his revenge; you can mark my words on that.”…
…He is disturbed when he sees the changes in Bo and follows him to the Granger house…
…He hears a scream and a gunshot and runs to the house. He runs inside to find Remi and Rae in the bathroom and Bo on the floor with a gunshot wound to the head. Hermione is disheveled and shaking Rae was in the corner near catatonic. The witch flinches when he touches her and crawls a little farther from him.
“Hermione, love, you need help. You need to go to casualty” he said as gently as possible
“No.”
“ Love you need medical attention, at least let me call Max.”
“No, Ethan. They will want to know what happened. I can’t let Max or Leni know Rae shot Bo because he tried to rape me. It was not him, Ethan.”
…He helps Hermione making it look like an accident. He is saddened when Rae leaves home, unable to deal with what had happened…
…He comforts Hermione when the body of her Uncle Basil is found after the tragic Zoe’s tragic car accident…
…He calms Hermione when she is racked with guilt when Danni was injured in a boating accident. Hermione never goes into detail, but it is clear to Ethan that they knew something that they should not have and were silenced…
…He hears a hard, impatient banging on his flat door. He opens it to an angry and drunk Ripper. Ripper does not speak as he takes him by the neck with the intent to kill. Ethan struggles out of his grip and asks in a mocking tone “Ripper old boy you must be distressed you usually ask questions before trying to kill me.”
“How dare you touch Hermione. How dare you force her” his words were cut short by Ethan punching Ripper in the face “ How dare you accuse me of forcing her! I love her you bastard! You stand there high and mighty protector of the innocent. Never forget that you were not so innocent. Tell me Ripper are you angry that I tasted her magic or that I tasted it before you did?” Ripper was so enraged that he took a knife and stuck it into his stomach…
The sound of a house-elf…
the face of Adda Zabini
…Total blackness….