Legacy

Do I really need to say that I don’t own Harry Potter? I’m sure that you the readers already know that.

Legacy

Chapter 9

Harry sighed and rubbed his temples as he looked at the stack of correspondence on his desk. For the past week he had been receiving an assortment of letters from various members of the Order of the Phoenix. The Order meeting last week caused a lot of turmoil and strife within the ranks as Molly Weasley’s treachery had been revealed. Unfortunately, in the chaos that followed Hermione, Ron, Ginny and his abrupt leaving, Molly Weasley had disappeared.

Arthur was frantic with worry. The poor man had himself convinced that his wife had to be under a curse that caused her irrational actions. Bill Weasley was more cautious in his opinion. The oldest son of the Weasley brood had been communicating with his younger siblings and seemed to accept the truth. Of course with acceptance came lots of pain.

“Mate, go take a break.”

Harry smiled at Ron who was also shuffling through a stack of letters on his desk. He was glad that when they altered the muggle building for the headquarters of Eredita, Hermione, Ron and him agreed to have the top floor to themselves. They had spent so many years together, that it felt unnatural for them to live apart. The entire floor was one massive penthouse. Each of their bedrooms had a private bath and a sitting area with their own fireplaces. There was a large eat-in kitchen and a small dining room for more formal dinners. Their living room was rather large to allow room for all of Hermione’s bookshelves with overstuffed furniture placed in front of the hearth. They also had a study where the three of them had desks where they worked on and made plans for Eredita.

“Where’s Mione?” Harry asked curiously as his eyes fell on the empty desk to his left.

“The gym. She’s been at it non-stop since that damn meeting. Wearing herself out everyday. And she says it is so she can regain her full strength, but I ask you, how is exhausting oneself going to help make them stronger? Mental she is.”

Harry grinned broadly at the puzzled tone of his long-time friend. “It’ll help her. Just picture this, Lucius Malfoy’s face pinned on to one of the punching bags. I would say that it is very therapeutic for her.”

Ron laughed heartily at his best friend’s statement. “Now that I can picture!”

“Ron? How do you think tonight’s council meeting will turn out? I mean it is the first official one since Hermione’s return, and her first time seeing Lucius again.”

The red head sighed. “I can’t imagine it will run very smoothly. Tempers will be high with everything that has happened over the past month. We’ll just have to keep a close eye on Mione. I’m sure Draco and Severus will help keep things under control.”

Harry looked dubiously at Ron. After all, their partners both had a bone to pick with Lucius. If Hermione went after her former partner, he didn’t think that Severus and Draco would stop her. More than likely, they would sit back and enjoy the show.

And what a show it would be.

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WHAM!

Hermione slammed her fist into the hanging bag that sadly did not bear the face of her former partner. She had been hitting the bag for a good twenty minutes and was ready to move on to something else.

She walked across the empty gym unwinding the tape from her hands before depositing it in the trash can. She changed CD’s and soon the booming sound of ‘Zombie’ by the Cranberries echoed around the room.

She approached the mats and soon found herself lost in the rhythm of complicated tumbling moves. She felt her body relax as she followed her ingrained gymnastic ability not even consciously aware as her body flipped and twisted.

She had a couple of hours before the Council would be assembled and she was both dreading it and looking forward to it.

By now, she was sure that word of her partner severing their bond had made the rounds of Eredita. She could picture the looks of pity on the council member’s faces. First, the poor little muggle-born had managed to get herself captured and tortured. Pathetic. Then her partner, a pure-blooded and powerful wizard decided that he could no longer be bonded with her, that she obviously wasn’t worth enough courtesy to be informed beforehand. Weak. Not to mention the fact that a ranking member of the Order of the Phoenix had arranged for her demise and was responsible for her beloved parent’s death. Worthless.

Her ire grew as these thoughts continued relentlessly. She stopped her movements and stood there in the middle of the gym, her chest heaving. Her limbs trembled with the effort to control her anger. She would prove them wrong! She was not pathetic, weak or worthless, and if it was the last thing she did she would make sure that everyone knew that!

Determined, she spun around intent on leaving the gym. She waved her hand and the radio was silenced. She walked towards the door, her mind on the upcoming meeting, when her small frame slammed into a much larger one.

Biting back a curse as she regained her balance, she looked up into a pair of golden eyes. Her breath caught in her throat as sharp words died on her lips. Warm hands were on her shoulders helping to steady her.

“I apologize for running into you.” A deep, accented voice said sending a small thrill through her limbs.

“No, it was my fault. I wasn’t paying attention.”

The handsome man smiled down at her causing a warm sensation to flare in her stomach.

“You are Hermione Granger, yes?”

She could only nod her head. A soft laugh escaped the tall man in front of her. “Ah, good.”

Warily, she took a step back to gain some distance between them. “And you are?” She asked shortly, suspicious of the raven haired man.

“Please forgive me. I am Nickolai Kattakolos.” He said with a small bow.

She arched a brow at him. “Why were you looking for me?”

A small smirk graced his sensual mouth. “I was not looking for you per se, though I was hoping to run into you. I wanted to thank you for saving my sister Seren from an unspeakable act back at the prison compound. If it wasn’t for you, I shudder to think what could have happened.”

Hermione’s mind flashed back to the event he was talking about against her will.

Rough hands, clawing and pinching her skin. Weight crushing her small frame. Pain. Such pain.

She shook herself out of the memory. “It was nothing. I have already spoken to Seren a couple of days ago and she already extended her thanks for your family.”

He stepped closer to the petite witch. “Ah, but I wanted to tell you in person so I could have the chance to meet the brave witch who defied her captors. It is a bonus that you are so beautiful.” He whispered the last part as he fingered a strand of her hair.

Shocked Hermione remained still as Nickolai stroked her hair, a far away look in his eyes. Abruptly, he stepped back, and stared intently into her eyes.

“Thank you again for what you did for my sister. You have the gratitude of the Royal Wizarding family of Greece.” He spun around and swiftly left the gym leaving an open-mouthed Hermione staring after him.

What?

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“Come on Hermione! We are going to be late!” Ron hollered at his friend’s bedroom door.

“Then go ahead without me if you don’t want to wait!” Came the sharp reply through the door.

Harry grinned at that. “Ron, leave her alone. We are the leaders of Eredita, they can’t start without us.”

Grumbling, Ron took a seat on the loveseat next to Harry. “What’s taking so bloody long?”

The raven haired wizard just shook his head. Some things never changed. It was obvious to him that Hermione was taking care with her appearance. He knew she wanted to appear strong and in control, and he didn’t blame her.

The door opened, and Hermione stepped out. “Well? Are we ready?”

Harry’s jaw hit the floor as he looked at his best female friend. Gorgeous. Deadly.

She was wearing tight low riding black leather pants with a pair of black motorcycle boots. A low cut crimson tank top was visible through her black long-sleeved sheer top. Her loose curls were gathered in a low pony tail with strands framing her delicate face. Her amber eyes were dark and smoky giving her a dangerous appearance. Her lips were wine colored as she bit them nervously.

“Well?”

“Bloody hell Mione!” Ron gaped.

“What? Too much?” She asked, worried.

Harry smiled. “No, not at all. I believe that you have captured the image you were going for. I highly doubt any one in their right mind would challenge you.”

She beamed at her two best friends. “Good. Now let’s go.”

The three friends left their penthouse and decided to walk down to the Council room. They passed many witches and wizards on their way that all stopped and stared at the Trio that exuded power and confidence.

Seren was walking with her brother when the three leaders of Eredita passed them entering a room off to the left. She shivered at the feeling of sheer power they were radiating. She looked over at her brother and was surprised to find him slack-jawed, his golden eyes glowing.

He snapped his jaw shut when he saw his sister looking at him and continued down the hall. Seren smiled. She had not missed the intense look in Nickolai’s eyes when he saw Hermione.

Most Interesting.

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The trio entered the conference room and ignored the gathered Council as they made their way to the seats at the head of the table.

“Looking good Mione!” George Weasley catcalled causing a small smile to grace her lips.

“Thank you George.”

Harry cleared his throat. “Let’s get this meeting started.”

His green eyes scanned the occupants of the room noting that all were present. He let his eyes settle on Lucius Malfoy who stared back at him impassively.

“As you should know by now, Hermione, Ron and I have withdrawn completely from the Order of the Phoenix.” Mutters rippled around the table.

“I have also ordered them out of my house which served as headquarters. There was some protesting over this, but thanks to Severus, we came up with a spell that would not allow entry to them or anybody else that I do not deem acceptable.”

His eyes fell on Ginny who sat calmly next to Remus. “I’m sure you are also aware of what was done to one of own Council members at the hands of her own mother. Molly Weasley is a traitor to her family and the Wizarding world. We will be searching for her. If you have any information or contacts that may have some knowledge of her whereabouts, we ask you to let us know.”

Ron addressed the group next. “We have already outlined assignments for the next two weeks and you will receive them by tomorrow. It is important that these instructions and missions are followed. I do not need to remind you that not only are Voldemort and The Order of the Phoenix our enemy, but we have been sold out to a muggle that is known as ‘Alpha’.”

Hermione stiffened at that statement. Ron continued not noticing. “He is a high priority and must be found. We ask that all of you watch your backs.”

Harry winced slightly at Ron’s statement and he wasn’t the only one. “Yes. Do watch your backs. You never know what can happen when you are caught unawares.” Hermione said in a cold voice.

Realization dawned on Ron’s face. Harry seeing this took over before his friend would say something stupid that would set Mione off.

Ron you are an idiot! Draco’s irritated voice sounded in his head.

I know! I know! Ron snapped back, sending a sidelong look at the petite witch at his side.

She sat cool and unruffled as Harry addressed other key points. The meeting was coming to a close before she finally stood from her spot.

“I have one more thing to add.” Her eyes fixed on Lucius. “For a severe wrong that was done to me by my partner I officially challenge him to a duel set forth in the Eredita rules. It is well within my right to do so and I hereby call out Lucius Malfoy.”

Lucius rose lazily, ignoring the voices of the other gathered council members. His artic eyes stared into her burning amber ones.

“I see that you still remain hot-headed and immature Ms. Granger. I was so hoping that the experiences of the past month would curb that rash behavior of yours.” He sneered.

Hermione’s face gave nothing away at his statement. “I set the time an hour from now in the dueling room on Level 4. This will not be strictly a wizarding duel. This will be an Eredita duel.”

“As you wish. I am not surprised that you chose a physical duel over magical. After all, with your upbringing you could not successfully defeat me in a true wizarding duel.”

Draco sucked in a breath at his father’s slur. What in Merlin’s name was he thinking?

“Enough!” Harry snapped. “It is within Hermione’s right to call this duel, and her request will be honored. An hour from now the Eredita duel will commence. I suggest you all get to the dueling room on Level 4. I don’t think any of you will want to miss this.”

Severus smirked from his seat near the front of the table. Lucius doesn’t know what he is getting himself into.

The senior Malfoy just sneered and walked out of the room. Silence followed his departure.

Ron looked around at the remaining members of the Council. “Well? Spread the word, I don’t think anyone will want to miss Lucius getting his arse handed to him by a woman.”

The Council members scrambled from the conference room, eager to tell everyone what was going to happen.

“Hermione, I do not believe that you need it, but the best of luck.” Severus said standing.

“Thank you Severus. I do believe that my former partner has forgotten that I was the top student in our martial arts training classes. It will be my pleasure to remind him.” She said with a steely glint in her eyes.

“Let’s go.” Harry said.

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Narcissa Malfoy stared at the figure on their knees before her. Her lip curled in distaste.

“Why should I help you?” she asked coldly.

“Because I can help you.” The figure countered.

“True.” Narcissa considered her next words.

The Dark Lord would be interested in meeting with her surprising guest.

“Very well. I will contact him immediately. You are to stay in one of the rooms here and you will be locked in until the Dark Lord decides what to do with you.”

“Very good.” The cloaked figure stood up, their hood slipping. The crackling flames of the fireplace cast a sudden glow over their features.

Narcissa smirked as a house elf led Molly Weasley away. Her lord would be most interested in meeting with her guest indeed.

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A/N: Thanks for the reviews everyone! Please keep them coming. Next chapter will be MOST interesting and it should be up by the end of the week.

Now, THIS IS AND WILL END UP TO BE A LUCIUS/HERMIONE story. I’m just going to make the road bumpy along the way. Very bumpy.

Thanks for reading.

F.L.