Author's Note:
Originally, my plan was to include the Dursleys and the Blacks in this one, but as you can see, things got long, especially after I added the opening scene. Still, I felt it was important. Ignoring Pranitha would've been a waste; she has too much potential as a character. And who knows? Her story might end somewhere interesting.
The next chapter will be a direct continuation, starting with the Dursley scene (which I'll try to make juicy), then moving on to Grimmauld Place for a key moment, and finally taking us to Kuoh and the beginning of the DxD canon.
I can promise this: it's going to be awesome, and things are about to shift in a big way for our loved wizards. Also... good job, Neville.
Celestial Ascendancy
Chapter 52: Farewells.
Hogwarts.
Elias Black.
"Why are you two so quiet?" I asked, raising a brow as my girls trailed behind me.
Hermione huffed and looked at me seriously. "Do you seriously not realize what you just did, Eli?"
I stared at her, confused, then glanced at Iris, who watched me with a worried expression.
"What's she talking about, love?" I asked.
"Eli… you just healed Fawkes," Iris said evenly. "We saw it before it got too bright. How can you not remember that?"
"I did?" I blinked, feeling a weird chill crawl up my spine. "Love, are you messing with me?"
"Eli… are you okay?" Hermione asked gently, reaching out to grab my arm.
"I'm fine," I nodded firmly, but the weight in my gut didn't match the words. "I just have no idea what you're talking about, babe."
The girls exchanged a glance, one of those silent conversations they had always been too good at, and then nodded to each other.
"We saw it, Eli," Iris said quietly. "You healed Fawkes."
I blinked again, completely thrown off. "I don't… remember doing anything. I just stopped for a second, and then you two stared at me like I'd grown wings or something."
"You didn't," Hermione muttered under her breath, "Not wings, at least."
"What was that?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"Nothing," both of them said simultaneously, a little too quickly.
I frowned, but Iris grabbed my hand and squeezed it gently. "Maybe it was just the stress. You've been pushing yourself a lot lately."
Hermione nodded along far too innocently. "Yeah… let's just not worry about it for now, alright?"
Right. Because the two of them were terrible liars when they were hiding something together. But I decided to let it go for now.
"If you say so…" I murmured, still unsure. Then, I exhaled slowly and forced myself to refocus. "Anyway, we need to start getting ready."
I reached into my cloak and pulled out my trunk before handing it to Iris. "Here. Take this to your dorm and grab the rest of your things. Mione, make sure she doesn't forget anything. I'll meet you both there once I'm done."
Iris took the trunk with a nod, eyes flickering toward Mione again.
They were absolutely going to talk about this behind my back.
And I wasn't sure if that made me more annoyed… or concerned.
"What will you do right now, Eli?" Iris asked.
"I need to take care of something here in the castle. I'll catch up with you two later, yeah?" I smiled at her.
"Sure, sure," Hermione nodded. "We'll get everything ready, love. Go do your thing."
Later.
I knocked on the door, waiting patiently until Madam Pomfrey's voice howled from somewhere deep in the infirmary.
Shaking my head, I opened the door and stepped inside. The bay was empty, thankfully. I smiled at the Hogwarts matron as she moved between some shelves.
"Hey, Madam Pomfrey. How are you?" I greeted with a grin.
"Hello, Elias," she replied warmly, then her smile turned teasing. "Did you need anything? Perhaps some friction burn medication?"
I blinked slowly. "What are you...?"
Pomfrey looked at me and burst out laughing, waving her hand dismissively. "I know you're not here for me. Madam Pranitha's in her office."
I nodded, a bit dazed, and headed toward the door at the back of the medical bay.
"And I'll pretend I didn't see that blush," came her dry delivery, making me almost trip.
I chuckled and shook my head. Madam Pomfrey was hilarious… but I definitely preferred it when she teased Iris instead of me.
I knocked and pushed open the door once the Indian healer called out.
"Oh, Mister Elias, how wonderful," she said just as she locked her trunk. The office was practically bare. She was clearly preparing to leave, as were the rest of us.
"Do you have some time, Madam?" I asked seriously. "I wanted to talk to you about something pretty serious."
"Of course I do," she replied with a grin. "I always have time for the most interesting subjects."
"Has anyone ever told you you're way too invested in some things?" I deadpanned.
"All the time," she said proudly, not even pretending to be ashamed.
I motioned for her to follow, and she didn't hesitate. "So… what's this about?" she asked.
"Not here," I murmured. "We're going to the room we talked about last time."
"Ah… is it so serious that you'll finally show it to me?" she teased.
"I think we're past that point, Madam," I chuckled, leading her up to the seventh floor and stopping in front of the wall with the tapestry of the dancing trolls.
I walked back and forth, focusing. I needed a place to hide things. It was time to deal with one particular cursed object the school had unknowingly hosted for too long.
"How good is your Occlumency?" I asked, turning to block her path.
"One of the best in my country," she said proudly. "I doubt even Albus could break my defenses without focusing on it."
"Good," I said, pushing open the door. "Because you're going to need it."
We stepped into the Room of Hidden Things, and I heard her gasp.
I couldn't really blame her. The room was enormous. Vast in ways that felt unnatural. It stretched on so far that I honestly hoped we wouldn't waste too much time looking for the damn thing.
"Why are we here, Elias?" she asked, still staring around in awe. "Are you here to make me disappear? I didn't think you were that type."
I chuckled at her dry tone. She was surprisingly calm. If she genuinely thought I'd brought her here to get rid of her… well, she wasn't showing it. Props to her for her composure.
"Of course, I'm not doing that," I rolled my eyes. "I'm not that evil."
"Oh? That evil?" she grinned. "I knew you weren't quite as 'light' as Albus likes to preach."
"Knowing about the supernatural world tends to change one's perspective," I said with a wry smile.
She nodded seriously. "So, what happened?"
"You knew what was inside Iris's scar, right?" I asked sharply, my gaze locking onto hers.
The healer hesitated, and I caught it. I gave her a slight nod, letting her know I'd noticed.
She sighed. "A Horcrux. A piece of someone's soul is embedded in her scar… and only one person fits those criteria."
"Voldemort," I confirmed. "The night he attacked the Potters, something went wrong. I'm not exactly sure what, but a fragment of his mutilated soul invaded Iris. Probably because she was the only one alive and magical inside their house."
"Ma Kali, preserve us," she whispered under her breath. Her hands clenched tightly inside her robes. "But that doesn't make much sense…"
She shook her head slowly. "Creating a Horcrux requires a ritual. A long and deliberate one. It's not something that happens by accident."
"What if he'd already done the ritual, probably five times before he ever got to Iris?" I asked.
Pranitha paled. Her breath caught as she closed her eyes and murmured something in a language I couldn't recognize. A few seconds later, she looked even more shaken.
"If that were true…" she whispered, "his soul would be so fractured that a piece of it could separate without the ritual."
"Exactly," I said with a nod. "And that's what happened."
She looked at me, eyes intense now. "Why are we here, Elias?"
I didn't answer right away.
Instead, I raised a hand, motioning for her to stay silent and still.
"Just watch," I murmured.
I inhaled slowly, drawing magic from my core as if it were nothing. My core responded immediately, and with a single breath, I released it. My Aetherium poured out from within me like a broken pipe.
The room didn't shake, but it hummed. The air thickened, and golden particles slowly pulsated outward from my skin in waves.
It didn't burn; it didn't mean to. A steady tide of my magic flooded every corner of the vast chamber with my presence.
Pranitha gasped beside me, her breath hitching at the sudden weight of magic. But she didn't speak; she just stared with an open mouth before closing her eyes peacefully.
My eyes slid shut.
I let the magic settle into the space's cracks, sliding over old books, broken statues, desks, and the remnants of centuries of hoarding.
There it was.
A dark pressure, an oily and evil presence, clashed with my Aetherium.
I opened my eyes slowly. "That way."
I stepped forward, motioning for her to follow me. Pranitha didn't hesitate this time, keeping a few careful paces behind me as we weaved through the towering mountains of junk. It didn't take long before we found it, half-buried beneath a collapsed wardrobe and tucked inside the hollow skull.
Ravenclaw's Diadem.
I knelt and reached out, gently removing it from its resting place. The moment my fingers touched the metal, a whisper skittered across the back of my mind. Or at least, it tried to. But my defenses stopped the attempt without any effort.
I rose slowly, holding the diadem in front of me.
Madam Pranitha moved as if in a trance. Her hand stretched out, fingers twitching toward the artifact like it was calling her. Her eyes unfocused, lips slightly parted.
"Don't," I said firmly, shifting the diadem just out of her reach.
She blinked rapidly, looking startled and embarrassed.
I reached out and gave her a soft tap on the forehead with two fingers. A gentle bonk, just enough to break her trance.
"Good defenses, Madam," I smirked.
She blinked again and stepped back, sucking in a deep breath. Then another before she let out a shuddering breath. Her hands trembled slightly, but she clasped them together and forced herself to calm down.
"Apologies," she muttered. "That… that thing is vile."
"Yeah," I said, looking down at the diadem. "That's the third one."
Her eyes snapped to mine. "Three?"
"Yeah," I shrugged, "We destroyed one two years ago, a diary with a shade of Voldemort that ran around the school and possessed a friend of mine. Then, Iris and this one."
"You weren't joking?" she asked, clearly shaken. "Are you completely sure?"
"Voldemort is terrified of death," I said with a dark chuckle. "His name literally means 'flight from death,' or something like that. Honestly, he should be more afraid of me, but I'll have time to teach him that later."
"What are you planning to do?" she asked sharply, "I have no way of removing the Horcrux from Iris without killing her. I'm not even sure if it's possible."
"I'll find a way," I said resolutely, "That's why I wanted to speak with you. You said you were curious about the real supernatural world. That you'd love to explore it, right?"
"Yes…" she replied slowly, lifting an eyebrow. "Where are you going with this?"
"I have an offer for you, Madam," I said with a shrewd grin. "What would you do to finally meet some truly fascinating races safely?"
"Anything," she said without hesitation, "It's been my dream since the last war."
"Well, good news for you," I smirked. "The girls and I will visit our friend while things cool down here in Britain. Specifically, The current Lucifer's little sister."
Her mouth opened, and I couldn't help but laugh. Rias really was the perfect bait for getting attention.
"And I'm fairly sure we'll be heading to the Underworld at some point," I continued, my voice filled with allure, "If you agree to come with us, you'd be under her protection. Devils aren't exactly known for their healing magic… but you? You'd be invaluable. Who knows, you might even get some interesting offers."
She stared at me with wide eyes and uneven breath.
"And while I'm not at the same level the absolute monsters leading the devils are," I added with a faint shrug, "I seriously doubt any of them would be stupid enough to target a wizard under the Gremory's hospitality. And if someone is that stupid… We'll handle it. Turns out that I'm their complete antithesis."
I nodded at the Holy particles permeating the room.
Madam Pranitha stared at the diadem in my hand, then at me.
"You're serious," she whispered, her voice filled with awe and greed.
I nodded with a smirk, "Deadly."
She took a slow, trembling breath, then grinned, "Then lead the way, Elias Blake."
"My real surname is Black, my friend," I grinned at her and offered a hand.
Next Day, Hogwarts Express.
"What are you two up to?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at Iris, who was grinning like the imp she was.
Hermione followed behind her with a smirk, but neither of them gave me a straight answer.
"Something we need to do before we get to the station," Hermione said evasively.
"And I'm not allowed to know?" I raised an eyebrow.
"We want to see your face when you realize," Iris grinned, and Hermione nodded in agreement.
"Fine, fine. Lead the way, you two," I said with a laugh, shaking my head.
They all but marched down the corridor until they stopped in front of a specific compartment. Iris knocked. Two voices replied, and she opened the door with a smirk.
"Heya, Susan," she greeted. "Did you think about my proposal?"
Hannah, sitting beside her redheaded 'friend,' blushed furiously. She was so pale the red practically glowed across her cheeks. She looked adorable.
"We did," Susan replied with a smirk, reaching over to caress Hannah's hand. "Do you think you can make it happen?"
"He won't have much of a choice," Hermione said with a chuckle.
"But… everyone will know," Hannah whimpered.
"Come on, Hannah, live a little," Iris whispered something into her ear.
"Don't listen to her," Hermione rolled her eyes. "We'll make sure no one notices. I promise."
The blonde whimpered again but nodded timidly. She was sweating with nerves, and I still had no clue what was happening.
"Fine. Do it," she squeaked.
"Yes!" Susan grinned and kissed Hannah on the cheek. "You're the best."
My girls exchanged looks and chuckled before dragging me away, but not before shouting that they had five minutes to prepare.
They each grabbed one of my hands and tugged me toward another compartment, not letting me ask a single question.
As we walked, my eyes narrowed at the sight of a familiar tuft of girlish blond hair and a voice I loathed.
"Better enjoy the train ride while you can," Draco Malfoy drawled from the entrance of his compartment, flanked by his usual troll-sized sidekicks and Nott, who looked more gaunt by the day, "Half-bloods and Mudbloods won't be tolerated much longer."
I felt a flicker of something at the sight of Nott. He wasn't like Malfoy, not as loud or openly cruel as the ponce, but if he was still standing there, still choosing their side… then whatever sympathy I had died right there.
But I didn't know how things worked in Slytherin, so I would wait till next year to decide.
"Shut up, Malfoy," Ron growled, standing from his seat and pulling his wand.
"What are you going to do, blood traitor?" Draco sneered, "Your family might be next if they keep kissing Dumbledore's arse. Pick the winning side."
Nott remained silent, eyes fixed on the floor, but I could feel the tension radiating off him. Like he didn't belong there… but forced himself to stay.
Iris scowled and moved to step forward, but I caught her wrist and cleared my throat.
"What do you think you're doing, dear Draco?" I asked sweetly, my smile showing my teeth.
Draco paled the moment he heard my voice.
The two trolls (I still couldn't be bothered to remember their names)instinctively stepped in front of him, drawing their wands like well-trained dogs.
But Draco was clearly not in the mood to try his luck with me. He grabbed the back of their robes and yanked them behind him with a squeak before bolting toward his compartment like a kicked dog.
The scene would've been hilarious if it wasn't so damn pathetic.
As the wannabe aristocrat disappeared down the hallway, I turned slightly, only to catch Nott walking behind them. He hesitated, then met my gaze.
Subtly, so subtly that I was sure no one else could see, he nodded once.
It wasn't fear... not even an apology. It was… relief?
I didn't have time to think it through before he, too, vanished into the shadows after Malfoy and his crew.
"What the bloody hell was that?" Ron blinked, his wand still loosely in hand, "What did you do to make Malfoy piss himself like that?"
I waved a hand lazily, "Must've been my good looks."
Ron snorted, and Ginny blushed.
Ginny chuckled from her seat, "Remind me to never get on your bad side."
"I don't think you can be on my bad side, my dear Ginevra," I winked at her, making Ron scowl and the redhead look like a Volcano before she scowled, too, since I used her hated name.
Then Seamus asked the question that made the air go heavy.
"Is it true?" he said, eyes flicking between us, "About You-Know-Who? That he's back? Why is no one saying anything if that's the case?"
There was a long silence filled with tension.
Iris calmly stepped forward, "It's true," she said simply, "He's back. And things are going to get worse before they get better."
The Gryffindor group exchanged scared glances, but no one argued.
"You don't have to believe it right now," Hermione added softly, "But stay alert. Just… be careful. And more importantly, prepare for anything."
Before anyone could respond, Iris turned on her heel and marched into the compartment.
Hermione followed without missing a beat, and both of them made a beeline straight for Neville.
"Wait... what are you...?" Neville barely had time to blink before he was yanked to his feet.
"No time to explain," Iris said with a grin.
"You'll thank us later," Hermione added, dragging him toward the door.
Ron looked like he wanted to ask something, probably something idiotic since he was still scowling at me, but I just clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't," I smiled.
He wisely shut his mouth.
I turned and followed after the girls. Something told me I was about to witness a train ride to remember. I just waved behind my back and smiled once I heard Ginny giving her goodbyes.
The girls pushed Neville all the way toward Bones's compartment, and I finally pieced together their plan. It was brilliant. Neville wasn't the type to make a move like this on his own… but I was pretty sure he'd be thanking my girls next year. He wasn't as timid as his canon counterpart, but he still needed a push for something of this magnitude.
"Where are you taking me, Iris?" he squeaked, not even trying to resist anymore.
"Don't worry, Neville. This is our thank-you gift," Iris laughed.
"Thank you for what?" he asked, clearly baffled. "I have no idea what's happening."
"You'll see," Hermione grinned mischievously.
Before long, we reached the girls' compartment, and Iris paused in front of the door.
"Eli," she blinked at me innocently, "can you destroy the charms blocking transfiguration?"
I snorted and shook my head. "You're the worst… I'm in."
Closing my eyes, I focused on the magic around the door. I couldn't break it precisely, at least not without risking some collateral damage if I used wizarding magic. Still, I knew enough about charms to isolate the one I wanted.
I smirked once I pinpointed it, then willed my blue flames forward. One thing I'd noticed after my fight with Walburga was that my flames had improved drastically. They'd burned through Sairaorg's Touki, life energy itself, and I suspected it would work just as well with magic.
Sure enough, I felt the protective layer give under the heat of my flames. It resisted, but not for long. I canceled the fire before it could spread and gave a satisfied nod.
"Done," I breathed out.
Iris grinned and opened the door.
Hannah squeaked when she saw Neville, and Susan's grin turned absolutely wicked.
"Hannah? Susan?" Neville stammered nervously, "What's going on?"
"You'll see," Hermione said sweetly as she pushed him inside.
Iris immediately began transfiguring the compartment into something straight out of Hogwart's deepest lore. We didn't usually need to visit snogging closets ourselves; we had the Hollow, but every student knew what those compartments were really for.
"Have fun," Iris grinned as she shut the door and sealed it with an overpowered locking charm.
"Mission accomplished," she pumped her fist proudly, "You had fun, right, Eli?"
"You're incorrigible," I laughed, pulling her in for a kiss. "I want to see him before we leave the station."
"Oh, it's going to be glorious," Hermione grinned.
King Cross Station.
The girls and I couldn't stop laughing as we watched a disheveled Neville step off the train with a wide grin plastered across his face. He was trying, and failing, to clean lipstick off his cheeks and collarbone, but he was way too distracted to do a proper job of it.
He walked straight toward his grandmother… who stood like a brick wall, arms crossed and glared sharp enough to cut steel or make lesser men piss themselves.
"Merlin," I muttered between chuckles, "he's so dead."
"He'll die happy," Hermione added, biting her knuckle to hold back her laughter.
"Definitely worth it," Iris grinned.
Not far behind him, Susan and Hannah emerged from the train looking just as ruffled, their uniforms askew and matching grins on their faces. Susan didn't even bother to hide the kiss mark she'd left on Neville's jaw.
Amelia Bones waited for them at the floo area, with her arms behind her back and a tired expression until her eyes found Susan's face.
She exhaled through her nose and shook her head once, lips twitching upward before she turned and began escorting them to the network. But not before nodding seriously at me—a quiet, meaningful nod.
That's why there were so many popos here.
Neville's moment didn't last long.
"NEVILLE FRANKLIN LONGBOTTOM!" his grandmother screeched, grabbing his ear with a speed that would make a Seeker proud, "Have you lost your mind?! What were you doing on that train?!"
"Stuff," Neville replied dreamily with a dazed look, not even trying to fight her grip.
She tugged. Hard.
"Gran, ow, ow… okay… okay!" he yelped, still grinning like he'd won the Triwizard Tournament instead of me.
"That was the most magical thing I've ever seen," Iris whispered, wiping a tear of joy from the corner of her eye.
Then Hermione grabbed our hands and tugged us toward the other end of the platform, where a tall man and a woman with frizzy hair and kind eyes were waiting.
"Time to meet the parents," she said under her breath.
Heathgate, London
The drive to Mione's house was tense, but not because of the war. No… it was because of my relationship with Mione.
We hadn't even had the chance to explain anything about Voldemort yet. The tension came from Hermione doing the most oblivious thing ever, thanks to her habits.
She grabbed my hand during the journey to her home... In front of her parents.
And they saw it.
Mr. and Mrs. Granger didn't say anything then, but both kept sneaking glances at me throughout the ride. Meanwhile, Iris was grinning from ear to ear in the backseat. She was in a good mood... probably because she didn't have to deal with the Dursleys. She'd sent them an owl the day before, and unsurprisingly, they hadn't shown up at the station. It was obvious that they didn't like her.
Hermione's father pressed a button in the car, and the garage door slid open with a soft hiss. He pulled in, parked, and turned off the engine.
"Welcome home," he said slowly, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel before he stepped out of the car.
"Thank you for taking us in," I sighed, "There's a lot we need to talk about, but we should probably settle in first."
"That's a wonderful idea, dear," Mrs. Granger replied with a warm smile.
"Please, come in. And call us Emma and Dan," she added, nodding politely, "Iris and Elias, right? Hermione's told us a lot about you two."
"All good, I hope," I said with a grin, reaching over to poke Mione lightly in the stomach.
Dan's eyes narrowed as he exhaled through his nose sharply before his wife poked his stomach.
I froze.
…Fucking habits, dude.
It hadn't taken long to arrange our belongings since everything was inside my Hollow. Hermione just took my trunk, walked inside, surprised her parents by disappearing, and brought Iris's and her bags out, carrying them into her room.
They'd be sharing a room while I slept across the hallway for obvious reasons.
Emma had called their favorite Italian place, ordering a mix of food and their go-to choices. We were waiting for it to arrive when the conversation shifted.
"So… do you want to explain something, dear?" Dan asked slowly, eyes fixed on Hermione over the rim of his glass.
Hermione closed the book she was pretending to read and sighed. She shared a look with Iris, who nodded back encouragingly… but Hermione still looked a little guilty.
"Mom, Dad… I want you to meet my boyfriend, Elias Black." She said plainly, her voice carefully neutral. "We started dating this year."
I glanced toward Iris instinctively. She met my eyes and gave me the slightest nod, a genuine smile on her lips.
So I stood a little straighter and offered a polite, confident smile.
"Mr. and Mrs... uh, Emma, Dan," I said respectfully, "It's good to finally meet you properly. And I had hoped it would be under better circumstances."
Dan studied me with that classic father look. Not exactly hostile, but definitely assessing. His brow furrowed just a bit.
"So… Elias," he started casually, but not completely relaxed, "Hermione's mentioned you in letters here and there. Says you're brilliant. Bit of a prodigy... Dangerous with a wand, too."
I chuckled warmly, exchanging a glance with the bushy-haired witch, "I try to be more useful than dangerous, sir."
Emma smiled at that, clearly amused, but Dan was still in dad mode, "And… what are your intentions with our daughter?"
"Honestly?" I said, glancing briefly at Hermione, who was now hiding her face behind her hands, "I love her. She's one of the most incredible people I've ever met. I just want to keep her safe and see her thrive."
Dan's eyes narrowed slightly… then he exhaled and gave a slight nod.
"Fair enough," he murmured, "You're not what I expected."
"Good, I hope?" I grinned.
He snorted, "We'll see."
Before he could fire off another question, and I had no doubt there were more, I cleared my throat.
"I'd love to talk more about this, and we will, I promise, there's something important we need to explain first. Something bigger than school or even our relationship."
Both Grangers straightened slightly, and their lighthearted expressions vanished in an instant.
Hermione and Iris leaned in at my sides, and I folded my hands on the table.
"What are you talking about, Elias?" Emma asked, instinctively grabbing her husband's hand. "What is happening?"
"Mom, Dad," Hermione began gently, "Do you remember when I told you about the First Blood War in Britain?"
"Yes, dear," Emma nodded slowly. "Something about blood purists who wanted to kill people like us? There was a… Voldemort, or something like that?"
"Yes, exactly," Hermione said, clapping her hands softly together as if collecting her thoughts.
Then her expression turned grim. "Voldemort was supposed to be dead… but he came back a bit more than a week ago."
She proceeded to explain. The words came fast at first, as if she had rehearsed it.
Clearly, this wasn't the first time she'd thought about how she'd tell them. But even so, it was clear she left some things out. She mentioned the Third Task. She said there had been a ritual, that some people died. Voldemort had returned with a real body, and his followers were already regrouping.
The look in Dan's eyes grew darker with every sentence while Emma gripped her husband's hand like a vice. She must have a mean grip, with how much Dan was squirming.
"So he's back," Dan said after a heavy silence. "This… dark wizard, the one who lead the war? He's back, and everyone's just pretending he isn't?"
"That's the problem," I cut in gently. "Everyone is waiting to see who acts first. But people know. And worse, they're starting to pick sides."
"And you're involved?" Emma asked me worriedly.
I nodded, "Directly. I was there when it happened. And I've fought him and his people more than once."
"And Hermione?" Dan looked toward his daughter.
"I didn't fight him this time for obvious reasons," Hermione replied carefully. But I helped. "And I will defend myself and what is mine if I have the chance," she finished resolutely.
Dan looked like he wanted to argue, his jaw clenched. But Emma placed her hand on his arm and shook her head.
"Why are you telling us this now?" she asked, "Why not lie to us?"
"Because you're in danger," Iris said sadly, "By association, if nothing else. Hermione is one of the brightest witches of our generation, and not only that, she is important to me... to us."
I let that settle before continuing.
"We've asked a… powerful friend of ours to protect you—someone we trust," I said carefully, avoiding specifics since Mione had said they were quite Catholic. "She'll hide you somewhere completely disconnected from the magical world. You'll have everything you need, safety, privacy, and opportunities for growth. No one will know where you are."
Dan's frown deepened as he scowled, "You're asking us to go into hiding... And leave our only daughter to fight a war?"
"Yes," I said simply, "Like it or not, Dan, there is not much you two can do to protect yourselves from our kind. Even less with the kind of people who would come for you. I can take care of Hermione better than anyone in this world, but I cannot be in multiple places simultaneously."
"And how do we know this friend of yours can be trusted?" he asked, his voice low.
"She's already done more for us than most people ever would," Hermione said gently, "I wouldn't ask you if I wasn't sure I could trust her. Mom... Dad, please. You two are too important to me, and I wish you are safe and sound."
Dan looked toward Iris, who gave a slow nod of confirmation. "She's solid," Iris said plainly, "She's a bit dramatic but very loyal. She'll keep you safe. And her family is powerful, much more than the lackeys that will search for you."
The silence stretched for several minutes.
Then Emma exhaled and leaned back on the couch. "It's a lot to take in."
Dan nodded, "But… I trust you, Hermione. Both of you."
"We'll go," Emma said, squeezing her husband's hand again, "If it means staying alive and letting you do what you need to... we'll go."
Hermione let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, and I reached across the table, resting my hand over hers.
"Thank you," I said quietly.
"You better keep her safe," Dan said, looking me dead in the eye.
"I will; I will make sure nothing happens tonight. Our friend should come tomorrow to my family home, and we will come back for you two. We will bag everything with magic, and you will be completely hidden by tomorrow night," I promised.
Dan nodded approvingly and Emma graciously, making me sigh in relief.
Now… Only the Dursleys left, and Grimmauld Place was in sight.
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Warning? I post them edited and all, but they can change minutely before going live in here