Chapter Six

"Columbine Winters? Why, that's... " Professor McGonagall started. She snapped her lips together, not sure if she should offer the information.

"Yes, Minerva, Columbine Winters is Luna Lovegood's mother," Albus finished. "It's no secret, as I have asked her father to bring her here so she can safely meet with her friends for a holiday dinner. Hopefully, with Hermione and Luna together, the other Vale Ladies can be located."

A house-elf popped into the room and spoke to the Headmaster, who clapped his hands delightedly. "The Lovegoods are in the Great Hall, and, as we are the only inhabitants of the castle, we will take our dinner there. Let's be off, and afterwards, Severus will catch everyone up on this fascinating tale we have been privy to!"

Severus glared at Albus' joviality, then went to Hermione's side and took her arm as she stood from her seat. "Shall we check on Alexander and then meet the others for pudding? I am quite sure the boy is wondering where his dinner is."

Hermione smiled softly and nodded her agreement. "Is it only dinnertime?" she asked. "I feel like we have been talking for days."

"No, my dear, just hours."

Severus led Hermione to the Headmaster and told him of their plans. As they walked to the Floo, Harry and Ron demanded to know where they were going.

"Headmaster, aren't the Snapes required to join us for dinner? It would be hard for Hermione and Luna to figure anything out if they weren't in the same room." Harry still had an edge of hatred in his voice when he spoke.

Hermione's temper flared, and she fired back quickly, "Harry, I have a son whom I must tend to. I prefer to do so in private, but if you still don't trust Severus, or myself for that matter, you are more than welcome to come watch me breastfeed Alex. You can ensure that the Dark Lord doesn't spring from my bra!"

Ron headed for the door, not waiting to see if Harry was following. "That would be the scary part!" he exclaimed.

Harry, ignoring Ron's comment, turned red at Hermione's statment. He bristled even further as Severus let his displeasure at Harry's pettiness be known. The Potions master was about two ticks from hexing The Boy Who Continued To Be A Pain. Hermione laid her hand back on Severus' arm, and with one last look of loathing, he turned to the fireplace and called out, "Poppy's office." With a flash of green, the two were gone.

Harry had started towards the staircase, trying to catch up to Ron, when the Headmaster stopped him. "Harry, you place too much blame on Severus for things he didn't do. Now you are casting that blame on Hermione. They both have had to make some hard choices and are happy in their circumstances. You should give them a chance, rather than condemning them for surviving."

Albus looked shrewedly at Harry. "Do you truly wish your friend dead, rather than happy with Severus? If you do, then you had best rethink things before you face Voldemort. If you aren't true to yourself, and all of those counting on you, you will fall and everyone you love along with you."

With that, Albus preceded the boys down the stairs.

*****

Dinner was a raucous affair, full of high spirits and laughter. The house-elves had outdone themselves as usual, serving everyone's favorite foods. For a moment, the war was forgotten and life was good. Everyone ate their fill, and as dinner was being cleared and pudding set out, Hermione and Severus rejoined the group. Immediately, Luna rose from her seat and rushed to her friend.

"Hermione, I have been so worried about you," she warbled. "I knew you couldn't be dead because there were no Curlywurlies at your memorial service."

Hermione smiled indulgently at Luna while Severus rolled his eyes, and Ron was heard in the background whispering very loudly, "Harry, what the bloody hell is a Curlywurly?"

Sniggers of laughter were heard all around, and the two girls hugged before taking their seats. Hermione wasted no more time and cut straight to the heart of matters. "Luna, have you noticed anything odd recently? I mean, something calling to you?"

Luna looked owlishly at Hermione and then nodded. "Yes, I have been having dreams for almost a year now. Not every night, mind you, but quite regularly. They are very odd."

Hermione leaned close. "Odd? How so?"

"Well, the dreams start out the same every time. It's my mother, and she is doing her experiments. There's an explosion and I see her die. She stands up, looks at me then says, 'You are the one; you must seek out the Vale'. After she gives me the message, I see a what looks like a well, and four women surrounding the well. There is always a bright flash of light, then I wake up." Luna shrugged delicately, "I just thought it was Wrackspurts trying to fuzz my brain while I was sleeping."

Hermione shook her head. "No, no Wrackspurts caused this. Luna, you are a descendent of Nimue's priestesses like I am. You are a Lady of the Vale. Severus is also a descendent. We have been trying to locate all the bloodlines. We've discovered a way to destroy You Know Who and need your help."

Luna's father, Xenophilius, spoke up. "Are you sure? Columbine was always going on about a well or a veil or something, but she never told me what she was doing or looking for. After she died, I forgot all about it."

"I can tell you what I know for sure. Luna's mother felt the call, but she didn't know what it was. She tried to answer using an ancient text she found at the Wizarding Library in London, but the power was too much for one person to control. It overwhelmed her. That is what caused the explosion that killed her. It was the backlash of a great deal of unharnessed magical power."

Xenophilius looked at Hermione in shock. "You mean she wasn't killed because she was crazy?" His look became warily hopeful. "Lots of people thought she was, you know. They've not been kind to my girl about it either"

"No, Mr. Lovegood, sir. Your wife was killed in an accident because she was part of something very important. If the others that were part of the bloodlines had heard the call and answered when she did, You Know Who might have been destroyed long ago."

Luna wiped tears from her face and asked, "What can I do to help?"

"Eileen thought that we should do a Summoning Spell worded to call only Ladies of the Vale. That way, we wouldn't be calling just anyone, even if they are a descendent."

Luna agreed. "We may as well do the spell now. Perhaps we should find somewhere the Kitterplods won't interfere."

Hermione and Xenophilius both indulged Luna and her ideas, while the others chuckled and shook their heads. Things were starting to look up. Perhaps this war could be ended, and on their terms.

Albus clapped his hands, and the remains of the holiday feast disappeared. "Shall we adjourn to the Headmaster's Office again. It is much cosier, and we shouldn't be interrupted by anyone." He started for the doors to the Great Hall, and the entire group quickly followed. Solemnly they made their way to the gargoyle-guarded entrance, and one by one they made their way up the narrow staircase to the office.

*****

Everyone was settled back into their places in the Headmaster's Office, watching intently as Hermione and Luna performed a modified Summoning Spell. It was similar to 'Accio', but much more direct and specific. There was some argument over whether two heretofore unknown Vale Ladies would respond to such a summons when they hadn't responded to the Lady of the Lake, herself. Minerva finally ended the stalemate when she stated, with Albus' agreement, "Perhaps it would be wise to each mix a drop of your blood, and key the spell to it. That should end any question of whether the Summoning Spell is accurate enough."

Albus produced a ceremonial dagger and the two girls cut the ends of their middle fingers and dropped the blood to mingle on a silk handkerchief Hermione had brought from the Lodge in the Vale. The blood soaked quickly into the silk, and when Hermione and Luna chanted the spell, a blue glow suffused the handkerchief. As quickly as it manifested, it was gone. Everyone sat back; nothing was said, but they were all wondering what could possibly happen next.

"I suppose now would be as good a time as any to tell us how you two ended up married and with a child." Molly addressed the Potions master rather frostily.

Severus arched an eyebrow questioningly and sneered. "I'm not sure what business it is of yours as to how it happened. Just be assured, Hermione is my wife and Alexander is my son. Nothing will change that, regardless of the feelings in this room."

Harry, still looking for something, anything, to attack Severus with, bit out angrily, "Maybe you don't want to tell because you forced her."

"I am becoming rather weary of your ill-mannered accusations and foolishness, Potter," Severus answered back. "My personal life, and that of Hermione, is not your concern. I refuse to give out the sordid details of our interactions because you have a chip on your shoulder."

Severus was beginning to get angry and it showed in the way his voice dropped in timbre and volume. It was obvious he was reaching the end of his tether when Hermione spoke up. "Severus, it's OK. I don't mind sharing a bit of our sordidness." She then addressed the Order at large. "I will tell you what you want to know, but I will not tolerate any interruptions and once I get started, I refuse to stop. If you don't like what you hear, remember, you asked for it."

Several of the Order members looked uncomfortable, and Remus tried to speak up, but he was too late. Hermione had already begun to weave her tale.

*****

It was late on Friday evening, and Severus should have been at the Lodge hours ago. He had been very good at juggling teaching, both of his Masters, and his spy duties, but Hermione just knew something terrible had happened. Eileen had tried to tell her more than once that Severus was often late, but as long as she had been at the Vale, unless he had night duty at Hogwarts, he would always arrive on Friday evening around seven in the evening.

"I know something has happened, Eileen. I feel it. He has never been this late before."

Eileen pulled the brush through Hermione's curls and told her once again, "Hermione, you have been here for almost three months. There have been plenty of times in the past fifteen years he has been late. Don't worry."

Hermione didn't respond, but Eileen could tell that she hadn't relaxed at all. She continued to brush Hermione's long, curly hair hoping that it would ease the girl and she would sleep. For the past few days, Eileen noticed that Hermione hadn't been sleeping well. She tossed and turned and cried out in the night. Eileen hoped that the restlessness would go away soon, that perhaps Severus could provide an elixir to help her sleep.

Unfortunately, when Hermione had first come to them, they found she was allergic to Dreamless Sleep. Luckily, the nightmares had eased as Hermione grew comfortable in her new home. Because of this, the recent developments in her sleeping patterns were beginning to worry Eileen a great deal.

Finally, Hermione drifted off enough that Eileen felt safe leaving her briefly. She went to the library to pick up the book they had been reading, and to get her shawl. She also needed to get out of the room because she didn't want Hermione to pick up on her own nervousness about Severus' lateness. She paced briskly in front of the fire for a few moments, burning off some nervous energy. A few moments later, Eileen was on her way back to Hermione's room, when she heard the front door open. Cold air from the late spring snowstorm raging outside, swirled up the stairs and wove itself around Eileen. She hurried to the landing to find Severus making his way slowly from the entryway.

"Sweet Nimue, Severus, I've been worried sick. What's happened? You've not been this late in a long time." Eileen looked over her son, but didn't see any injuries. "Something's wrong... "

Severus sighed harshly. "Miss Granger? Is she well?"

Eileen nodded. "She is recovering beautifully. I think that you will probably be a better judge, since you only see her at the weekend." She frowned thoughtfully. "However, there has been something this past week."

Severus looked sharply at his mother. "Tell me."

She was taken aback by the urgency in his voice. "Very well, but let's go to the library and get you some tea. I have a feeling we don't want to be discussing this in front of the girl's door, anyway."

Eileen gestured towards the door at the end of the hall and cast a spell to alert her if Hermione awoke. The two made their way quickly to the library where Eileen called Posey and ordered a tea tray.

"Tell me what's happened to you," she demanded.

"First, what is wrong with Miss Granger?"

"She has had bad dreams all week." Eileen looked Severus in the eye. "Dreams of the ritual. She hasn't said anything, but I think she is in pain. She is most definitely restless. And when you didn't arrive this evening, she was absolutely frantic."

Severus stared at the fire burning merrily in the fireplace and drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair. Eileen didn't push; she knew he would speak when he was ready. In the meantime, she made a cup of hot tea, and pressed it on him. Eileen sat back and watched Severus drain the cup rather quickly for such a hot liquid.

"I have been with Lucius. Bella and Greyback are still both adamant that Miss Granger is alive. It is the week of the Spring Solstice and they are beginning a plan to flush her out."

"But how? I don't understand. No one knows of this place at all, and we both know there are no tracking spells that can be used to find the Vale. As long as Hermione is inside the boundary, she doesn't exist."

Severus nodded. "I know, Mum, but you don't understand. The aphrodisiac salve has a spell trigger. She was their prisoner for six months; they have access to hair, blood, any number of things to cast the spell on. When they do, there is nothing I can do to stop it. They will cast this spell every night until the Solstice and, by then, she will be in more pain than you can imagine, and desperate to find an end to it."

"I have never heard of an aphrodisiac that causes pain." Eileen frowned.

"This one is intended to mate the victim with a werewolf... during the full moon."

Eileen gasped, "Oh, gods, what can we do."

"There is no antidote but to consummate the spell. The pain is such that a woman would rather mate with a monster than to hurt any more. Lucius was able to get most of this information out of Bella. It seems that she has delighted in tormenting him about Narcissa. Bella told him that if she hadn't killed her, they were going to use the salve on Cissy."

Eileen sat in her chair, her mind desperately grasping at what Severus was telling her. Suddenly a thought hit her. "The pain--it will destroy her mind, Severus. There is no way around it."

Severus just nodded. "I'm afraid so. And that is the least of our worries. She is a strong young woman, and it is possible that she would try to leave the Vale to find a solution. In fact, I believe they are counting on that. They wanted to mate her to Remus Lupin, but haven't managed to catch him. They did have some of his hair, though, and used it in the salve to key his reactions to Hermione."

"There has to be something we can do. If she is already dreaming that means Bella has started the spell cycle. We don't have much time at all."

Severus glared at his mother. "Don't you think I know this?" he hissed. "I have racked my brain for an answer, ANY answer, but there is only one. She has to lose her virginity."

"To Remus Lupin?"

"No, I think that the hair was just a failsafe to make sure that Remus, in his werewolf form, would mate with her with no compunction."

Eileen leaped from her chair and waved her hands at Severus. "Fine, then you do it. Now. Go and wake her up and explain. No, I'll wake her and explain... "

Severus shot Eileen a horrified glare. "NO! Absolutely not, Mother. I couldn't possibly... She is a student."

"Severus, we can't let her be found, we can't let her leave the Vale, and we can't let her be hurt any more. Please."

Severus sighed tiredly. "In the morning, Mum. I need some rest, as do you. It will keep until then. Hermione can decide who she would prefer, and I will bring him to Argante. They will have to have relations there, at the Inn."

"Very well, Sev. Good night, then."

Severus kissed his mother's cheek. "Good night to you as well." His robes billowed as he walked out of the room.

Eileen followed soon after.

*****

Hermione paused in her recitation to take another sip of her citrus tea. As she began to speak again, several of the odd instruments that dotted the Headmaster's Office went crazy, and alarms sounded.

Albus stood quickly and spoke to Severus. "Someone's at the front gate. Will you accompany me?" He gestured absently towards one of the wildly gyrating pieces on his desk. "It seems that whoever is calling is urgently trying to get in the gate."

"Professor Dumbledore, I want to come. This could be a trap." Harry had jumped from his seat and was waving his hands wildly. "Ron and I can help."

"We don't need help, Potter. We can't go out there like we suspect there is a problem." Severus answered quickly, jerking his chin at Remus. "I do suggest we bring Lupin, just in case we have to subdue someone. Between us, we should not have any trouble."

Remus stood in agreement. "I will follow along slightly behind you, and close to the woods nearest the gate. If I am not needed, no one will know I'm there."

Albus nodded. "A good plan; let us go see who is interrupting Hermione's fascinating tale."

"What about me?" Harry demanded. "I can HELP!"

"We don't want anyone to know that there are people here other than Minerva, Severus, and myself. You need to stay here, and we shall return momentarily."

Harry threw himself back into his chair in a fit of temper, and Arthur moved to sit beside him, whispering urgently in his ear.

Severus rolled his eyes in exasperation, then went to Hermione's chair and knelt beside her as Remus and Albus started down the stairs to the main hall. He ignored the stares of the others in the room, and touched her cheek softly. "We'll be right back, my love. Don't leave this office unless Poppy comes to get you." A swift kiss to Hermione's lips, and Severus disappeared down the stairs, black robes billowing around the corner behind him.