Following breakfast Y/N and Hermione began walking towards Curse Breaking with Lavender.

"Not exactly in uniform for class, are you?" Lavender chuckled. Y/N was beside her in a t-shirt and shorts, flip flops on his feet.

"Permission from Madam Pomfrey. I don't fancy wearing a full uniform today" he chuckled, before excusing himself to fall back for a minute. The two girls continued onwards, Lavender asking Hermione:

"How is he, really?"

Hermione offered a sad smile in response.

"He's doing his usual, assuring me he's fine. A little sore but fine. I don't have the heart to tell him I can see every time he pulls up short in pain, every time he seethes to himself before trying to hide it. I think it's a miracle I didn't lose him yesterday..."

Hermione wiped a tear from her eye, Lavender rubbing her shoulder as the two girls walked.

—~—

Y/N had dropped back, seeing Adam walking behind them, and he stopped and waited for the Ravenclaw to catch up.

"Hey mate, how are you feeling?" Adam smiled as the two shook hands.

"Like hammered shit" Y/N smiled as Draco and Pansy walked past with their heads down.

"I'll bet. That was unreal yesterday, mate. I've never seen anything like it."

"I've never had to do anything like it. Let's hope there's a while before I have to again" Y/N chuckled in reply. "But I just wanted to ask, how are things with you and Lavender? Things seemed to have gone a bit quiet?"

Adam chuckled.

"Yeah, I asked her on a date to Hogsmeade-"

"That's awesome!" Y/N replied happily, cutting the Ravenclaw off.

"Not really" Adam replied. "She said she didn't like me like that."

Y/N's face dropped as he sighed:

"Oh fuck, sorry mate" Y/N replied, genuinely disheartened.

"Yeah well, plenty of fish and all that" Adam replied as the two arrived at class. Dean was speaking to the Headmaster as they entered. He looked across at his younger, but larger, brother:

"How are you feeling, Y/N? How did you pull up?" he asked with genuine concern.

"Yeah, I'm alright Dean, uh Professor L/N. Headmaster" Y/N answered Dean and then turned immediately to Dumbledore, acknowledging him with a nod.

"Lord L/N, it is good to see you up and about so soon after such a difficult task yesterday. I must say you were outstanding. I came to see you and Lady Granger"

Dumbledore smiled at Hermione with a slight nod before continuing to Y/N:

"You are both excused from classes today, take the time to relax, do what you need to. I'll have your class work send to your... dwellings. Enjoy your day."

Hermione was about to thank the Headmaster before Y/N gently gripped her hand as she felt the familiar 'world spin and push through a tube' sensation.

The students in the class, with the exception of Lavender and Adam, gasped at Y/N's sudden apparition. Dumbledore chuckled to Dean:

"I get the feeling he will definitely be less discrete about that, now that the cat is out of the bag."

—~—

Hermione felt the world stop spinning as the couple appeared in the L/N manor's ballroom-cum-training hall. The majority of the Phoenix Bearers, those currently not on guard or Knight hunting duty, were being put through their paces by the Acolytes. The moment they caught sight of Y/N they immediately ceased their duelled and dropped to a knee. Y/N smiled as he led Hermione by the hand over to where his Acolytes knelt.

"My Phoenix Bearers, it delights me to see you so diligent. I'm afraid I must contradict any orders you have been given, enjoy a morning off, I need to steal my Acolytes for an hour. Spend time with your families, go out and stretch your legs, sleep, do whatever you wish until after lunch."

The Bearers smiled and nodded, thanking their Lord as they dispersed.

"Now my darling, would you like to sit in on a boring meeting with my lieutenants, or would you prefer to catch up with Chiara and Charlie?" Y/N asked with a smile. Hermione giggled and leant up, pecking Y/N's lips and saying happily:

"I'll catch up with the girls. The less I know here, the less I can worry" she motioned to the leadership team with a grin.

Y/N chuckled and said goodbye, the Acolytes bowing as she passed happily towards the medical bay, the only exception being Vinda, who exchanged a hug with Hermione. Y/N led the Acolytes towards the central war room, and once they had all entered, took a seat.

"Dobby" Y/N stated calmly, the House Elf appearing instantly.

"Yes my Lord?" Dobby asked, happy to see Y/N back at the manor and out of his hospital bed.

"Do you have time for a meeting, Dobby?"

"Of course, My Lord" Dobby said excitedly. Y/N smiled as the diminutive elf pulled up a seat next to him.

"So..." Y/N began, looking across at his loyalest followers, "... how goes the training? Are the task forces coming together well enough?"

"They are, My Lord" Jackson answered with a nod, being the one responsible primarily for their training.

"Teams Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta are training together daily and are forming tight bonds. They are becoming stronger, faster and deadlier by the day."

"Good, my friend. Good" Y/N smiled. He looked to Vinda:

"How's the watch on the Burrow?"

"Steady and consistent, my Lord. No sightings of Knights or Death Eaters at either Upsilion, Sigma or Omega levels" she replied in her heady French accent. Y/N nodded.

Following the attack on the Haywoods earlier in the year that had taken the Phoenix Bearers by surprise, security had been tightened around the other Sacred Eight targets. Layers of protection, designated Upsilion, Sigma and Omega by Y/N (from the Greek alphabet) had been formed. Any sighting of a Knight, a Death Eater or any other hostile within any of these areas would result in a massive Phoenix Bearer assault, the closer the threat was detected, the bigger the assault force would be. Benny followed Vinda, being responsible for the Grangers protection:

"No sightings at any level near the Grangers either, Ma Lord" he responded in his southern drawl.

Y/N smiled and nodded appreciatively. Each of the Acolytes had been designated specific leadership responsibilities. Jackson was responsible for training, Vinda the protection of the Burrow, Benny the Grangers, Clayton was responsible for intelligence gathering and Torvus diplomacy with the foreign governments and entities Y/N had formed alliances with. All were performing admirably, Y/N more than proud of their achievements.

"Clayton, have our spies had any luck?" Y/N asked. Clayton shook his head and responded in his broad London accent:

"No, My Lord. Since you turned the tide and decimated their numbers in the Fleet Street attack it's been radio silence."

Y/N nodded.

"Keep them sharp and continue looking. We know that Lillith is working directly with Fudge and that she was behind the failed attempt on my life in the First Task. My gut though tells me the Knights and the Death Eaters are building to something. The attack on the World Cup, Fleet Street, Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire, Lillith's mocking of me by openly appearing with Fudge... something's coming. Something big... keep searching."

Clayton nodded and Y/N looked at Torvus with a smile.

"How fares our diplomacy, our alliances?"

"Well, my Lord. But none have so far encountered any Knights in their territories."

Y/N nodded and answered:

"That takes me to my next point. This upcoming trip of myself and Lady Granger to America. Can I rely on three of you to provide security?"

The three humans and the vampire raised their hands.

"You're not interested, Torvus? You're more than welcome" Y/N said genuinely.

"No it is ok, but thank you, My Lord. I will remain at the manor" Torvus smiled.

"And you will be in charge, alongside Dobby. Jackson, I'll transfigure you into a pseudonym identity. Benny, you will remain as you are, I'll stand proudly in front of the ICW with a Vampire by my side..."

Benny bowed his head, proudly.

"... Vinda you will come as well as Hermione's Lady in Waiting and personal bodyguard. Clayton, I take it the uh... process went well? Dobby told me about your... form."

Clayton nodded proudly.

"Yes, My Lord. Took some getting used to but I have it under control now."

"Excellent" Y/N smiled. "While I am away I want you at Hogwarts. Follow that rapist piece of shit Victor Krum everywhere he goes. If at any time he displays the slightest threat to a female student or staff member use your mark to summon me. Do not engage, I will gut him myself."

"Yes, My Lord. And security details, while Benny and I are indisposed?"

"I want Ellen to head up security on the Grangers, and I want Jo Harville to head up the Burrow. Send Jodie as her 2IC, for support, but I think Jo is ready for the responsibility."

"Yes, My Lord" Benny and Clayton nodded. Y/N smiled and turned to Dobby:

"Dobby, while we are on security can you check in with Terrance quickly, ask if the Little Whinging acquisitions are complete?"

"Of course my lord" Dobby nodded, disappearing and reappearing less than a minute later.

"All three properties you requested have been purchased, one is in settlement and two are in something called conveyance, My Lord" Dobby said happily.

"Excellent, Jackson when the properties are finalised I want the same drill as with Hermione's street, two Phoenix Bearers posing as a married couple in each house. Albus may have faith in his ancient blood magic but I prefer Harry to have more practical protection."

"Of course, My Lord" Jackson nodded.

"Finally, Dobby how is the running of the estate going? Is food production keeping up? We have plenty of recruits and Pyra will be consuming a lot."

"It is going well, My Lord, but we could always increase production. We are currently supplementing produce at wholesale markets in London for approximately 3,000 galleons a week"

"3,000?" Clayton gasped.

"We purchase fish and meat and fruits and vegetables, our Lord has instructed that we provide a nutritionally complete diet and-"

Y/N cut off Dobby's rant with a chuckle and an extended hand. He calmed his devoted assistant.

"Clayton wasn't questioning you Dobby, he was just shocked at the amount it costs to feed an army. No offence was meant, was it Clayton."

"No, My Lord, of course not."

Y/N smiled and Dobby nodded happily.

"Finally Dobby, how is our Elf emancipation project progressing? Are we purchasing every Elf that comes onto the free market?"

"We are my Lord. We currently have 85 free Elves in our employment, and a dozen children being schooled with the witch and wizard children, as you commanded. The only issue we are having is finding jobs to keep that many busy."

Y/N tapped his chin in thought momentarily.

"For the time being place an elf in each of the watch-houses we have purchased to help the Phoenix Bearers within, as well as with the Weasleys and the Grangers, to assist with running the household. Be careful not to split families, and if necessary the children can apparate into the manor each school day. I will have need of a large number of House Elves soon..."

Y/N looked around at his assembled Lieutenants.

"... I trust you are all aware of S.P.E.W, the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare, that Lady Granger has founded?"

They all nodded, Vinda smiling:

"Qui, Mon Seigneur, whenever we catch up she updates me on her progress, she iz most passionate, non?"

"She is indeed, Vinda. I may be biased but Lady Granger has the kindest heart I think I have ever met. I have plans for a similar charitable Society, but for Muggleborn integration into Magical Society, as well as ongoing support for Muggle families and for Muggleborns who graduate from Hogwarts and find themselves adrift trying to straddle between two worlds. Merlin knows the Ministry does nothing for them. Keep that in mind Dobby, and if any House Elves are concerned they aren't working hard enough just assure them their Lord has plenty of work for them, once the annoyance of this tournament is out of the way."

—~—

Following the meeting Y/N met with Hermione again, and after catching up with Charlie, Millie, Evie and Chiara he took Hermione by the hand down a long corridor in the mansion. They stopped in front of an ornate doorway Hermione hadn't seen before.

"Where does this go, love? It's beautiful" Hermione smiled before gasping as Y/N gently placed his wand next to her temple and whispered:

Obscuro

Hermione instantly giggled as a blindfold was conjured in front of her eyes.

"Really love, here, in the manor? Not that I'm complaining..."

Y/N chuckled, leaning down and pecking Hermione on the cheek.

"As much as I would love to ravish your brains out, this is something else, a surprise" Y/N whispered. He lead her up the small staircase gently by the hand and through the solid marble doors. He stood her in front of his father's portrait and said proudly as he took her blindfold off:

"Lady Hermione Granger, may I introduce to you, my father, Lord Thomas L/N, 57th Archduke of Magical Britain."

Hermione gasped as she looked up at her (future) Father-in-Law's smiling portrait.

"Your father, uh hello sir" Hermione gasped and curtsied nervously. Thomas smiled and let out a gentle and reassuring laugh:

"There's no need for such formalities, my dear. It is lovely to meet you. Y/N told us a great deal about you."

"Still no better dressed I see" a voice said laughingly in a thick Yorkshire accent from behind the couple. Y/N smiled:

"Hermione, love, this is my Grandfather, Lord Augustus L/N, the 56th Archduke."

"The war hero against..." Hermione gasped as her voice trailed off in realisation. Augustus had been Dumbledore's right hand man in the war against Grindelwald, awarded an Order of Merlin, First Class, for his bravery. It had been quite an awkward conversation the night before when Y/N explained his other grandfather was none other than Gellert Grindelwald.

"Against my other grandfather, yes we discussed that, at length, last night" Y/N chuckled.

"My archenemy and I siring the same grandchildren. The fates weave a twisted tale" Augustus chuckled. The others laughed as well before Hermione stopped.

"Wait last night, I thought you were resting in hospital?" she growled. Y/N chuckled as he rubbed her cheek to calm her.

"I was love, for the most part. But Dobby appeared to me, distraught after hearing of my injuries and I apparated here to calm the Phoenix Bearers. That's when I discovered this, the Hall of Lords. It means the magic in the Manor has accepted me as the one true Lord of my generation."

Y/N explained with a smile on his face, preempting Hermione's question:

"I asked the girls not to mention me coming here last night through legilimency, I wanted this to be a total surprise for you."

Hermione smiled at Y/N's explanation when they heard a voice from next to Thomas's portrait:

"Ah, so this is the young man who has inherited our Lordship. I'm sorry I slept through your visit yesterday. Come here and let me take a look at you."

Y/N smiled and stepped over to the portrait with Hermione, hand in hand, as the man within looked down at the couple, beaming with pride:

"Y/N, I heard a lot about you from my son and grandson. I am your great-grandfather, Lord Gonville L/N, 55th Archduke. This must be your lovely lady" Gonville smiled. His eyes widened though:

"Yes Great-Grandfather. This is my Grand Consort, Lady Hermione-"

"Dagworth-Granger" Gonville exclaimed happily. Y/N and Hermione looked at each other puzzled.

"Hermione Granger, but how did you-"

"You must be the great-granddaughter of my friend and mentor, Hector Dagworth-Granger. You are the splitting image of his wife, Severina, right down to the bushy hair" Gonville smiled, interrupting his great-grandson.

"But sir I am a Muggleborn and-"

"-and Hector and Severina's son, Cassian, had only one child, a boy, Albert Dagworth-Granger. He was born a squib" Gonville again finished a sentence, this time Hermione's.

"My great-grandfather was named Albert Granger. I remember my dad telling me about him. He was kind to my Dad but very sad. He died when Dad was still a child."

"Well there you go. You have quite a family history to discover and reclaim, Lady Hermione Granger" Gonville smiled widely with his kind eyes.

—~—

Y/N and Hermione had spent a good hour getting to know Y/N's closest antecedents before they enjoyed lunch with the Phoenix Bearers who were overjoyed at their presence. Following this they returned to Hogwarts.

"Did you want to go straight to the library love? Look up your 'new' family?" Y/N asked with a knowing smile.

"I do... but you said there was something you really wanted to do earlier. Before we left for the manor, remember?"

"That can wait, it's only about the second task-"

Y/N was silenced by a finger on his lips. Hermione looked at him with complete sincerity.

"That takes priority. Let's go. Now!"

Y/N chuckled and led Hermione by the hand up to the fifth floor.

"Where are we going?" Hermione asked with a giggle. Y/N though only responded with an infuriating smirk, until he stopped at a certain door, looked around and whispered "Pine-Fresh."

He walked in, leading Hermione by the hand and she gasped at the ornate bathroom they had entered.

The taps were gold plated and with a flick of Y/N's wand they opened, warm multicoloured water splashing out of them, yet it was perfectly clear once it hit the bathtub.

With another flick bubbles began running into the bath. Hermione marvelled at the whole room, especially the mermaid in the stained glass window across from them who was smiling at the pair and brushing her hair.

"How did you know about this? Is this the staff bathroom?" Hermione asked, turning to Y/N.

"No, I'll give you a hint, we're both going to be seeing this a lot next year, we are the most impressive Gryffindors after all."

"This is the prefect's bathroom?" Hermione gasped. It was stunning.

"It is... Hominum Revelio" Y/N answered, waving his wand and ensuring they were alone.

"Can never be too sure" Y/N chuckled. He summoned the golden egg from his pouch, sat it next to the bath and then kicked off his flip flops and lifted his shirt over his head.

"But babe... what if someone comes in?" Hermione asked worriedly. Y/N smiled, aiming his wand at the bathroom door:

Amizpi

Hermione heard a loud click but didn't recognise the spell.

"What spell was that babe?" Hermione asked.

"Locking spell" her lover replied.

"Oh, I've never heard of it. The only one I know is Colloportus. Are you sure the door will stay locked, baby?"

"Try opening it" Y/N grinned.

Alohomora Hermione cast. Nothing happened. Y/N pointed his wand at the door:

Zacam

The door clicked open before he locked it with Amizpi again.

"So what is that? And how do you know it?" Hermione asked before her eyes widened and a smile formed on her face as Y/N dropped his shorts, to reveal nothing underneath.

"Well you know how I meditate nightly, as I promised Lord Dhalsim I would?"

"Yes" Hermione answered.

"And you know how I've told you magic was a lot stronger in the first age?"

"Yes?" Hermione said as she raise an eyebrow.

"Well there was no Latin in the First Age. There was no Egyptian, no Hebrew, no Ancient Greek, no Sanskrit or Sumerian, right?"

"Yes..." Hermione answered, beginning to see where this was going.

"So what language was magic used in?"

"Enoch- wait..." Hermione answered with a smile.

"And the language implanted in my head by Castiel... exactly. It's not as simple as knowing it or every spell or anything. When I mediate each night I'm sorting through the information that was placed in my mind."

"How do you do that?" Hermione asked, genuinely intrigued.

"Well, you know how with your Occlumency training you visual having that thick wall around your mind, and you compartmentalise different thoughts and memories away in different boxes..."

Hermione nodded...

"...think of it like that, it's like all the Enochinan information Cass implanted, the language, the spells, the history, its compartmentalised into a block in my mind and when I enter the block I'm in a warehouse. All I can do is systematically shift through this warehouse bay after bay and row after row, sorting through all this information and placing it into some kind of order. That's what I do each night."

"Wow" Hermione said with an aroused grin. Y/N's intellectualism always had this effect on her. She continued with a sultry grin:

"So... these powerful spells from the First Age, they can't be countered?"

"Not even Dumbledore himself could come through that door" Y/N chuckled. Hermione grinned further, her two biggest turn ons, other than Y/N's looks, were his intellect, and when he wielded his power. She looked him up and  down hungrily before batting her eyelashes, removing her tie from her neck and dropping it as she undid her blouse.

—~—

Y/N and Hermione were in the large deeper end of the bath together, Y/N standing and the water was at chest height, Hermione treading water until Y/N reached down and gripped her lovingly but firmly, supporting her so she could relax in the water.

"So I thought you said you had figured out the clue for the second task last night, babe?" Hermione asked puzzled.

"In a manner I did, love. I can speak the language, but out of its natural environment it's a little hard to be sure of exact pronunciation" Y/N replied.

Hermione raised an eyebrow and Y/N chuckled:

"It's Mermish. Want to go down together?"

"I've been waiting for that since the blindfold" Hermione giggled, causing Y/N to chuckle as he picked up the golden egg and submerged under the water. Hermione inhaled deeply and followed, Y/N opening the egg and a beautiful voice singing out:

"Come seek us where our voices sound,
We cannot sing above the ground,
And while you're searching, ponder this:
We've taken what you'll sorely miss,
An hour long you'll have to look,
And to recover what we took.
But past an hour - the prospect's black
Too late, it's gone, it won't come back."

The two resurfaced, Hermione wiping the water from her eyes as she replied:

"What could that mean, an hour underwater, what could be taken?"

"Not what, who?" Y/N replied. Hermione looked at him puzzled and he continued:

"A lot of explanation in Mermish is in the subtext, it's why it's such a difficult language to learn and why relations between our two kinds have always been rocky. If you don't understand Merpeople's culture and society a simple sentence can be taken so far out of context it's a declaration of war."

Hermione looked suitably shocked as Y/N elaborated:

"Given the Merpeople's propensity for shunning most material possessions, what would their greatest treasure be? What would they sorely miss most? A loved one. From the lyrics I would say the person loved most by the student undertaking the task will be taken and we will have an hour to get them back."

Y/N saw a slight concern cross Hermione's face.

"Hey, you don't need to worry, it won't be you taken babe" Y/N said with a smile as he placed the closed egg down and waded up to Hermione, his arms gripping her buttocks as her legs wrapped around him instinctively.

"How can you be sure?" she asked.

"Because it would take more than the Ministry possesses to allow you to be separated from me" Y/N replied with his cocky smirk, leaning down as Hermione leant up, their tongues beginning to fight as their bodies relaxed in the warm water of the bathtub.