The Family Jewels

Ever wonder why J.K. has made the 3 main boys in the story have such unusual coloring and are so damn appealing and the main girl has brown eyes, bushy brown hair and is a know-it-all? Subliminal? I don’t think so.

Chapter 21
The Alchemist

Hermione left the Head Dorm with no particular destination in mind; therefore she was surprised when her feet carried her directly to the Quidditch pitch. The Gryffindor/Slytherin match was the following Saturday, and she knew Harry would be found in the air.

She lifted a hand in greeting, sitting at the top of the Gryffindor stands. Harry flew over and hovered for a moment before he realized that she was crying. He hastily lowered his broom, sitting next to her on the bench. “Hermione, what’s wrong? Everything seemed fine when you left with Blaise and Malfoy this morning,” Harry said.

Hermione breathed very deeply and tried to calm herself. “Harry, it was awful, I was so scared.”

“Scared? What happened?” Harry couldn’t imagine how a few hours in Hogsmeade would make his brave Hermione scared.

“Lucius Malfoy showed up and took Draco. I didn’t even say anything, I just let him go. Lucius did let Draco go, but I hadn’t realized it would be so easy for him to just walk right into our lives like that.”

“Lord Malfoy was in Hogsmeade? Did you contact the Aurors or Dumbledore to try to capture him?” Harry was certain he couldn’t have gotten away again.

“Um, no Harry, we didn’t. He had Draco, I couldn’t even think,” Hermione flushed as she felt anger coming from Harry over the missed opportunity.

“But Blaise was there with you the whole time? He would have gone with you to get help, Hermione, I know it,” Harry said in an exasperated voice.

“It all happened so fast Harry. Blaise was holding me and we were trying to decide what to do when Draco came back. His father Disapparated after only a few minutes. This must be about the jewels,” Hermione was thinking now.

“What jewels?” Harry was clearly humoring her at this point.

“Draco received a chest of jewels that have been in his family for hundreds of years from his grandfather on his birthday. Apparently, his father wants them now,” Hermione explained.

“Aren’t they his? He is Lord Malfoy,” Harry asked.

“Yes, but Draco’s father refused the jewels when he turned 17, so Draco thought it would be a good idea to take them,” Hermione said.

“For once, Malfoy might be right. Going on the theory that doing the exact opposite of his father for the rest of his life is the right plan would stand him in pretty good stead.” Harry was trying to get her to smile, but there was a great deal of truth behind his words.

“Actually Harry, I think you’re right. Draco would certainly agree with you,” Hermione rested her head against Harry’s arm which was around her. She was all cried out now, and her head was beginning to pound.

“Are you sure he’s not playing you? You always see the good in others, think you can help them. Shouldn’t you be more worried about Blaise? He is your boyfriend.” Harry was still a trifle skeptical of anything Malfoy said or did.

“No, Harry, I care about Draco too. A lot, I mean, oh bloody hell,” she stopped talking.

Harry turned her face to his, “What do you mean ‘Mione?” he asked in as calm a voice as he could manage.

She needed to trust someone, she had been carrying this secret around for a long time, and it was wearing on her. “I care about Draco, Harry. In fact…,” Ron turned the corner of the stands and yelled up to them, “There you two are, I’ve looked everywhere. I even had to talk to Malfoy and Zabini.” He walked up the rest of the way and sat on the other side of Hermione.

“You two are looking awfully serious. What’s going on?” Ron asked.

Harry wished that Ron would work on his timing. He looked at Hermione, and realized that the moment was lost. “Lucius Malfoy showed up in Hogsmeade today and dragged his son off for a private chat.”

“Are you all right Hermione? Maybe we shouldn’t trust anyone else to keep you safe,” Ron said heatedly.

“Oh Ron, let it go, would you,” Hermione cried, jumping up and running away.

“What was all that about Harry? Hermione just being mental?” Ron asked.

“I wish that was all it is. Something is going on with her, Blaise and Malfoy. And I intend to find out what it is.” Harry looked resolutely at Ron.

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Blaise was outside the castle, clearly looking for Hermione, when she practically ran right into him. “Cara, are you all right?” the genuine warmth and affection in Blaise’s voice made her want to start crying again, but instead she threw herself at him and hugged him as tightly as she could.

“I like that Hermione, but maybe we could go inside and talk? I’ve been looking for you for a while.” Blaise pulled back and she looked up into deep navy blue eyes that showed his worry.

“I didn’t mean to worry you; I went out to the pitch and talked to Harry a little.” Hermione allowed him to take her hand and lead her back into the castle.

“What words of wisdom did Potter have for you?” Hermione looked at him rather sharply, but she could tell he was only teasing. He raised an eyebrow in inquiry at her continued silence.

“He thinks I shouldn’t trust Draco because of his father,” Hermione thought summarizing the discussion in this manner would be best.

“Ah,” Blaise said. But there was clearly much going on behind that clear brow of his. She loved watching him think. He was so gorgeous, and now she was beginning to be able to pick out the different emotions that entered and fled from his eyes by turns.

Her lips twitched a little as they reached the Head Dorm, “Yes, ah,” she said. “Checkmate.” They walked in and Blaise led her up to Draco’s room.

Draco was off the bed and hugging her instantly. “I know I can’t tell you want to do. But I am asking, no begging, that if something like that happens again, you will stay in my presence for as long as I need you to make sure you are safe.” Draco began to rain little kisses down the side of her face, but they were not especially erotic, he was just making sure she was still there, still fine.

“Draco, is there something in the chest that Hermione could wear to alert us if there was some danger to her?” Blaise asked in a calm, bland voice.

“Blaise, are you trying to tell us something? You would know if there is something, not me.” Draco was looking at his friend in a rather amused fashion. If Blaise was being this cagey, it was sure to be practically illegal.

“Well, perhaps we could see the chest,” Blaise stalled. Draco’s face broke into a broad grin. He had thought he was doing the right thing, giving the diary to Blaise. Draco placed his hand on the chest and opened it with his wand. Blaise consulted the book for a few minutes, then he looked up at them. “You have heard of Theophrastus Paracelsus, I’m sure.”

“Yes, of course,” Hermione answered. “He was Swiss, a contemporary of Agrippa, I believe. An alchemist.”

“That’s right; he was an extremely powerful wizard, who was devoted to healing illness and injury. He spent a great deal of his youth in study of ancient Egyptian and Babylonian writings, and he was apparently a good friend to the first Lord Malfoy,” Blaise looked up from the book when he heard Hermione make a sound of protest.

“But Paracelsus died in 1541, five years before Lord Malfoy gained his title,” Hermione said.

Blaise gave her an indulgent smile. “Lord Malfoy knew him for many years before he was titled. Phillipe supported his work, and often commissioned talismans for people he loved that were based on Egyptian and Babylonian magic.” Blaise was searching the box for a specific pouch, which he pulled out and handed to Draco. “Phillipe had Paracelsus make these for his wife and sons, and I believe that we can invoke the magic in them to protect Hermione.”

Draco drew out a round disc, about the size of a Galleon, made out of solid gold and marked with delicate carving on either side. Upon looking at the markings more closely, one side had two triangles, one inverted over the other, with a dove in the center. In the ancient alphabet of the magi, the letters on the six pointed shape were ANAEL. On the opposite side, in the center of a pentagram, was a G in the old alphabet.

Blaise continued, “This is the talisman of Venus, which belonged to the first Lady Malfoy. It’s said to maintain harmony and the affection of lovers. It will drive away people who may envy or hate you. If it is dipped in the cup of a sworn enemy, it will transform the emotions of that person to affection and devotion for life.”

Blaise took the talisman from Draco. “There is a small ceremony in which we will need to consecrate the talismans. This one will be Hermione’s, and we will need to expose it to the smoke of violets and roses burned with olive wood in an earthenware vessel. Silk wrappings in green will cover the talisman, which you will wear around your neck.” Draco smirked at the idea of having Hermione wear Slytherin colours. “Don’t get so smug, Draco, I’m not finished.”

Blaise took the pouch back, removing two more talismans. “These are both talismans of Mars, which will protect us against our enemies.” The discs seemed similar to Hermione’s in size, but were made from the purest platinum, again with markings on both sides. On the pentagram side, was the image of two swords crossed at the center of the shape. On the opposite side, with the two inverse triangles, the word SAMAEL was spelled out in the alphabet of the magi, and a lion’s head was at the centre.

“We will need to burn desiccated absinthe and rue, and then expose the talismans to the smoke. Wrappings in red silk will cover it, also to be worn next to the heart.”

“Who are Samael and Anael?” Draco asked, astrology was not his best subject. “They are the planetary genius’ of Mars and Venus,” Hermione answered in a distracted voice, examining the talisman she was to wear very closely.

“When do you think we could consecrate them?” Draco asked.

“The ingredients are in our potions kits, that’s not a problem.” Blaise stopped and read over this part in the book again.

“So what is the problem?” Draco was getting impatient.

“If we consecrate the talismans and put them on each other, we are bound to each other. The bond will be very hard to break, this is old magic,” Blaise said.

“Who says we will want to break the bond?” Hermione asked, standing up on her toes to kiss Blaise, and then turning to kiss Draco.

“Do you want to break the bond, Blaise?” Draco drawled at him.

“No, I don’t. I just want you to be aware of what we’re contemplating here. It isn’t a marriage, and there is other old magic in the bonding necklace. These talismans will likely bind us to try to protect the others for our entire lives,” Blaise said before Hermione pulled his mouth down to hers and no words were spoken for many minutes. Draco moved behind her and began kissing the back of her neck and caressing the roundness of her arse.

“I like feeling protected Blaise. You two are so important to me. Let’s take care of each other,” Hermione said.

“I am ready to take the bond at any time. Does it only work when we are wearing the talismans?” Draco asked.

“No, but the magic is stronger if you wear the talismans next to your skin at all times. The bond will grow in strength over time. That is why it may be hard to break after a number of years go by,” Blaise was still trying to be the voice of reason, when this had all been his idea.

“Tonight, then?” Draco asked.

“At midnight?” Hermione asked.

“The Astronomy Tower?” Blaise just wanted to clarify.

“Good,” they all said.

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A/N – The talismans mentioned in the story are real, as is Theophrastus Paracelsus. I have worn a Talisman of Venus for many years. Do not get a cheap knock-off, if you wish to feel any effects of the magic.