Reclamation

Draco showed up on her doorstep at ten in the morning, the bastard.

“Were you still in bed? Who are you and what have you done with Hermione Granger?”

She glowered at him. “Quake. I didn’t hit the bed until almost four.” She waved him inside.

“Quake?”

“Can be played over the internet. I was gaming with some friends I made at school. Lost track of time.”

“I hope this isn’t an indication that your work ethic is slipping, Granger. I’m willing to invest a lot of money into you.”

She let out an inelegant snort. “I obtained the equivalent of three masteries in five years, Malfoy. My work ethic is fine. But currently I’m technically unemployed and I wanted to spend the night trying to kill my friends. Only online of course. It’s therapeutic.”

“I can see that. There are times I’ve wanted to kill my friends.” He held out a scroll. “The preliminary contract.”

“That was quick. I’ll want to have my own solicitor look it over and pick it apart with me.”

“I would hope so. It is the intelligent thing to do.” He grinned. “Do you already have one on retainer? I can recommend a firm to you if not.”

“Nice try.”

“The name is Malfoy. I do have to at least pretend to live up to it every now and again.” His grin turned into a chuckle as she set the rolled parchment onto her desk and picked up some discarded take out cartons to toss in the bin. “Love what you’ve done to the place.”

“Stuff it. I was gaming. I was obligated to power myself with caffeine, sugar and MSG. Though pizza can substitute for Chinese take out if need be.”

“Good to know.” He pulled that morning’s Prophet from his robes and held it up. “Is this him?”

She looked at the photo of herself sitting at the table in Pasquale’s across from Metis and groaned. “Please tell me the by line doesn’t say ‘Rita Skeeter’.”

In answer he flipped the paper back around and started to read in a spine chilling, breathy falsetto. “Friday night is the most popular choice for romantic outings and this past Friday evening was no different. What was different, however, was that we were graced by an appearance by war heroine Hermione Granger. Once a rather plain girl, she has finally matured past her lengthy awkward phase to carry herself with an understated elegance that makes the most of her meager assets.”

“That’s… almost friendly for her. Is she all right? Maybe she’s learned she’s terminal and trying to score points for the after life.”

“He’s not a bad looking bloke. A little too pretty, maybe. How did it go?”

“It went all right. He can carry on a decent conversation. We mostly spoke about ourselves. He asked why muggle borns are more likely to be allowed by their families to go to Hogwarts now when parents were still unlikely to agree in his time. It seems that they’ve been keeping him holed up under the Ministry since they brought him back.”

“I have some friends at the Ministry still. I asked them about the Resurrected. The Ministry has flats set up in the DOM to help them learn how to get around in the current time. They’ve all been giving jobs, too. Even the witches, though theirs are pretty much fetching tea and such. Your boy, however, is in the DOM. They are making use of that brain he supposedly has.”

Hermione covered a yawn with one hand as she summoned the file they’d given her on Metis with the other. It flew into her palm with a slap and she offered it to Malfoy as she set to gathering the ingredients for a simple omelette. She’d come a long way in her cooking skills since being forced to live on her own. She was no Molly Weasley, but she wasn’t bad.

“This him?” Draco started going over the pages. “Really brainy. Still think it’s a bad idea to cross that family line with your brains, though. Evil and stupid you can work with. Evil and intelligent gives you a dark lord. This can’t be right.”

“What?”

“Seven years of school and he only had four fights?”

“How many fights did you get into?”

“A lot more than four, though I think only about six got onto my record. Snape brushed most of our tussles within Slytherin House under the rug unless we were so messed up we had to go to the hospital wing. I suppose whomever was head of house at the time could have done the same then, but I would expect a swot from a questionable family and a girl’s name to have more trouble than that from other houses.”

“A girl’s name?”

“Yeah. Metis. First wife of Zeus. Goddess of wisdom and deep thought.”

Hermione snapped her fingers. “That’s where I’ve heard it before. Damn. I didn’t make the connection, but you’re right. It is traditionally a female name.”

“A girl’s name and a pretty face. It was almost as though his family was trying to set him up to get the mickey torn out of him. So did they tell him about his illustrious grand-nephew?”

“They did. We talked about his family. I don’t think he got along with them. Not sure why he was allowed to go to Hogwarts when the rest of them were home schooled, but he did say something about it being because he wasn’t the first born.”

“That tracks. You use your spare to build connections and alliances. Maybe barter them off in an alliance marriage at some point. You keep your heir close and make sure he knows how to run the family matters.”

“That sounds so cold.”

“It wasn’t that long ago that the muggles did the same, Granger. You’ve had the privilege of growing up in modern times after Western women earned a lot more rights than they once had. It wasn’t so long ago you wouldn’t have even been able to open an account at a bank without your father or husband signing off on it. Let alone attend university or own your own home.”

He had a fair point. She’d made the omelette rather large, stuffing it with cheese, tomatoes, peppers and some left over curried lamb. Cutting it in half she put half in front of Draco who dug in.

“How much do you know about computers?”

“I’ve seen them. Why?”

“Because there are different ones but not as many options in operating systems. Most of mine are Macs. If you’re someone who is wants the highest stability and have a greater than average knowledge and skill in working with computers, you might want to use something that runs on Unix. However, if you want the greatest flexibility as far as being able to get software to run on it, be it for work or for gaming, you will want to get something that runs on Microsoft. It’s buggy at times and the running joke is that if it’s giving you problems, just reboot it, but it’s the most user friendly as far as the average person and seems to be easiest for new users to grasp. Most software on the market is written to work on Windows which is the operating system put out by Microsoft and it’s probably what your accountant is using in his office.”

“You realize I didn’t follow most of what you just said, right?”

“Sorry. I suppose you are at a disadvantage since the magical world keeps itself apart from the muggles. Okay, I’m going to recommend going with a personal computer running Windows. And I’m going to recommend starting with a desk top instead of a lap top for a couple of reasons. It’ll be easier for me to build you one from scratch, easier to update as hardware tech advances quickly and because you’ll need to learn how to touch type and laptop keyboard are crap. I plug in a full sized keyboard and mouse into my laptop if I’m not out and about just so I don’t have to fuss with the built in. Leave everything to me. There are also some books I can get you that will get you started while I get your rig put together.”

“You’re the expert.”

“Have a degree and everything.”

The owl from the Ministry came about an hour after Draco left while she had been doing some online shopping to select the components for his rig. She could have screamed when she saw it. Fortunately it wasn’t from the DMFA. It was from the DOM. More specifically, it was from Horace Bulstrode. It seemed that he truly had taken over her case file and now wanted a meeting with her after the first ‘date’.

The next day she plucked her iPod from its charging station, she’d opted to avoid cracking it open and instead went with a magic fused charging station in an attempt to make a way to charge one if away from wired electricity, and put in her ear buds before heading out. Donning jeans and a summer blouse, she grabbed a handful of floo powder and made her way to the Ministry, uncaring that she stood out in her muggle clothing amidst the various robes worn by others.

Bulstrode’s office was deep in the bowls of the Ministry and just before the room with the Veil. Hermione hesitated in the hall, her eyes drawn to the far door and a shiver running up her spine until a tiny witch caught her attention and let her know the wizard was waiting for her. She found herself let into an office that was simple in its furnishing with only a solid desk, three chairs and a book case.

“Miss Granger, thank you for coming. Please, have a seat.”

“I wasn’t aware that we were going to have regular check ins.” The chair was larger than most, likely everything was sized to the very large wizard, and was quite comfortable.

“Normally there wouldn’t be, but we keep a closer eye on the ones involving our reclaimed wizards and witches. The DOM takes their well being seriously since it’s our doing that they are here. Can I offer you a cuppa?”

“No, thank you. I’m fine.”

“Good. Good. Now, I’ve spoken with Metis already and he seemed to find the evening pleasant overall. From our discussion, however, it doesn’t seem as though the pair of you every got around to discussing the future.”

She arched a brow. “It was the first time we’d ever met. Why would we discuss such things?”

The wizard gave a nod and a bit of a sheepish look which really didn’t fit his broad and heavy browed face. “I know, but it’s something the DMFA included in their guidelines when they helped us develop the protocols. It’s foolish, but we’re asked to look for it.” He made a note on her file. “He did say you discussed the war and his family’s part in it.”

“We did.”

“And what did you take away from the discussion?”

This was a strange conversation overall. “I… don’t believe he thought very well of his family. He clearly didn’t care for their practices when it came to marriage and children. I think Hogwarts may have been an escape from a bad situation for him.”

Horace nodded as he took notes. “Given Friday evening, are you willing to go on additional outings with Mr. Gaunt?”

Was she? It hadn’t been a bad evening after they got past the initial awkwardness of why they were there. He seemed a genial sort. And he certainly wasn’t a dullard. “I would be, yes. Only… am I allowed to take him into muggle London?”

The question seemed to take the wizard by surprise. “I… don’t see why not, but why would you?”

“Because while things haven’t really changed overmuch in the magical world over the past century, they have really changed there. And were were some things that came up in conversation that I need to be able to show him if he’s going to understand. He’ll need some proper clothing, though. No robes. I could possibly make a suit work, with his pale skin and dark hair we could probably pass him off as a Steampunk enthusiast, but jeans and a button down would be better. Maybe some trainers?”

Bulstrode looked a bit lost. Hermione grimaced. “Maybe you could get me his measurements and I can send something over? That way we can make sure he has something that blends in.”

She had gone with a robin’s egg blue for a button down shirt because it seemed a nice, safe choice. And it looked good with a pair of indigo wash jeans and a belt. She had not been prepared for what the color would do to bring out those eyes.

So this with what the co-eds at uni had meant when they had described a man as looking like ‘sex on a stick’.

She was in so much trouble.

“Are you all right?”

“Yeah. I mean, yes. I’m great.” She was blushing. She could feel it. “Uhm… did everything fit all right?”

“For the most part. I enlarged the shoes a bit, but not too much. They were just half a size off once I put on the socks.” He rocked his feet back and forth in the trainers. “I thought maybe they had a cushioning charm on them. They feel rather like walking on a firm pillow. But that’s just how they’re made, isn’t it.”

“Athletic shoes are made to support and protect the feet. As such they’ve become popular as daily casual wear.” She gave him a once over. He was mostly ready. “You can…most people leave the top button or two open unless they are wearing a tie. More comfortable that way.” Her fingers kingered at her own throat to illustrate. He nodded and quickly undid the top two buttons. “Perfect.” Understatement of the century. “Ready to go?”

He was, so she headed towards the visitors entrance and exit. The red phone booth was a bit cramped but they didn’t need to suffer it for long. They walked away from the red phone booth and into the foot traffic of London without trouble. She kept their pace relatively slow so he could take in what was around him. She could almost see him making a list of questions inside his mind to throw at her once they were not in a place where they could be easily over heard.

“I was thinking the best place to start would be the science museum. It would be where we’ll find the most variety of what’s happened over the past century.”

“I will defer to your judgement in this.” He looked up at a sound and watched as a passenger jet went overhead.

“Did you hear about Kitty Hawk? I think you were still alive when it happened.”

“Kitty Hawk?”

“First flight. By a pair of muggle brothers, Wilbur and Orville Wright. It only lasted a few moments but it was the beginning that led to that.” She pointed at the sky. “Now large aircraft carrying hundreds of people and tons of cargo are in the skies. Thousands at any given moment world wide. It’s reduced the travel time from London to New York from three weeks to under ten hours.” She gave a grimace. “And not nearly as likely to leave you shaking and nauseous afterwards unless you suffer from motion sickness or a fear of flying.”

“And international port key would still be quicker.”

“Yes, but business or first class in a passenger jet comes with meal service, champagne and in flight entertainment.” She shrugged. “But a port key is quicker, even if I hate the feeling. Come on.”

She took him through the underground to the nearest stop to the museum then through the foot paths. He could tell that he was taken somewhat aback by the sight of a trio of girls a bit younger than she was dressed for the summer heat, meaning short skirts that bared far more leg than he would have been used to seeing in public and sleeveless tops that were cut low in the front. No one else seemed upset by it, so he seemed content to keep his views to himself until they were well out of earshot at which point he muttered a low, ‘I’ve seen girls in brothels wear more fabric.’

She couldn’t resist. “Frequent a lot of those, did you?”

His already pale skin blanched. “No! I didn’t mean to imply… that is…”. He realized she was teasing him when she giggled.

“It’s fine. I was never very comfortable in the skirts, but I’ll admit to wearing shorts when the weather is hot and I’m going to be out and about. Then there is swimwear worn on public beaches these days. And, to be truthful, a lot of the taboo against skin has fallen to the wayside in most Western nations.” She motioned to a row of large print ads for women’s lingerie decorating a store front. Beautiful women in little more than bras and knickers. “I’m not entirely sure if that’s for the better or the worse. Remind me to be sure to get you a book or two covering the sexual revolution later. I’m hoping we’ll have enough time to include a book seller while we’re out today.”

They made their way to the museum at half past ten, only half an hour after opening. Hermione let Metis set the pace at how quickly they went. He asked only for where they should begin and they made their progress from there.

Some things had been in their infancy during his first time at life. Such as flight and the commercial use of telephones. Radio broadcasting started in the 1920s and eventually gave rise to the Wizarding wireless, an example of the magical community not completely missing an important part of muggle advancement. Broadcast television started shortly thereafter, but thus far wixen had yet to adapt that as well. Or cinema, for that matter.

They had a late lunch at a cafe near the museum but not before stopping at the gift shop and picking up some literature about specific topic he found interesting. She cast a quiet muffliato spell so they could speak openly. He tilted his head to the side. “I don’t recognize that one.”

“It’s newer. Created by Severus Snape when he was still at Hogwarts. We stumbled across it jotted in the margins of his old potions text book. He was always dead clever, just not the nicest of persons.”

Metis frowned. “I think I heard that name when they were teaching me what has happened since my death. He is something of a hero from the last war, I believe.”

She nodded. “He was. A spy for the light, though none of us knew that save for him and Albus Dumbledore. He had to subject himself to some horrible things, keep his mouth shut while witnessing horrible things, all to try and keep us safe and give us a chance at winning. Voldemort killed him in the end, a slicing hex followed by an attack by his familiar, Nagini.” She shivered. “It seems unreal that he’s gone. He was horrible to be around, was a right nasty character, but he was a brilliant wizard and an expert potions master. I can still remember his opening speech the first day I sat his class; ‘I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory and even put a stopper in death.’ Part of me keeps thinking he’ll reappear one day. Scarred and still mean, but far from dead.”

“It sounds as though you admired him.”

“I do. He was a harsh teacher but I learned a lot under him. I hate that he died with everyone hating him and lived with the people he was trying to save despising him. It wasn’t fair to him.”

Metis mulled his thoughts over as he studied his chips. “I find it difficult to know what to think. About you being at war, I mean. It is antithetical to how I was brought up to think. Not by my family but by society in general.”

“To be brutally honest, it’s against the main views of most societies out there. Though that is changing somewhat as gender roles shift.”

“It doesn’t change nature, though. One man can father a dozen or more children in a year. A woman, however, can only produce one unless it’s a multiple birth. And after labor, that babe is dependent on their mother for everything. In the grand scheme of survival, women are more important. A nation can withstand the loss of a good portion of their men, but kill enough of the women and you’ve effectively killed them all. It’s why we are raised to protect them.”

Hermione found herself nodding. “A sound point, of course. That very premise likely is what gave rise to your mother having to be a Jewess if you are to be considered a Jew by birth. My father could claim to be as my grandmother was Ashkenazi Jew. But even if they had raised him in that faith, in the eyes of many I could not because my mother was a Protestant. Such a requirement would encourage that men protect the women in their community and seek their wives from amongst them.”

“Why didn’t your grandmother raise your father in her culture?”

“She didn’t like to talk about it, but I think the war left her sour towards it. That would have been World War Two, which happened the same time as the trouble with Grindlewald. My grandfather joined up with the British army as soon as he could and was there when they liberated the camp where she was being held. When the Nazis rounded up her family it was her parents, three living grandparents, an uncle, two aunts, their spouses and children and her two brothers. When the Allied Forces took the camp, she was the only one left. My grandfather said she was so underweight he could barely feel her when he helped carry her out. She didn’t seem to care much for religion after what she went through.”

“They only gave me information on the war with Grindlewald. I don’t recall much said about what was going on in the Muggle war.”

Hermione made a note on the notepad she had by her plate. The list of topics he might need more information on was growing. “It’s an important topic. It shaped a great deal as far as international politics and how wars are fought in general. But it may not be at the top of the list.” She tapped the pen against the notepad. “I wasn’t able to tell my family everything that was going on, but I could tell them some things. After my fifth year, however, my grandfather grew worried.”

“Over what?”

“The bigotry against Muggleborn witches. He saw shades of how the Nazis started their campaign against the Jews. The ‘othering’ of them. He was worried that registration and internment would follow, and it turned out that he was right. I could have left. He made sure to set me up. Grandmother Ruth was already gone and he was terminal, so he’d gone ahead and settled his financial affairs. For me, he had me get a list of what banks Gringotts works with in the Muggle world, then set up various accounts in banks that they didn’t. Both here and elsewhere. It’s a healthy sum, more than enough that I could have left the country at the end of my sixth year. Just slipped away before anyone noticed.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“It didn’t feel right. I used a portion of it to help my parents leave. Bought our house under a trust so they could leave. Someone else bought their dental practice.”

“Are they coming back now that the war is over?”

She flinched. “No. I…I knew I was a target. That they might be targeted because of me. I …modified their memories. Erased all memory of myself from their minds. Gave them new identities and planted the urge to relocate out of the country. I found them afterwards but…the charm I used was advanced for someone with only six years of formal training. It…can’t be reversed. I’ve lost them.”

And it still hurt. She told herself that she’d saved their lives, but she still felt guilty for also taking away the lives they knew.

A hand came across the table to rest over hers. “It sounds as though you did what you had to for their safety. I read of the type of things those people did to Muggleborns and their families. You kept your family safe.”

She gave a brief nod, unable to really say much. They sat in silence for a while before she gathered herself and forced a smile. “We should have enough time to visit the book seller. I have a couple of things I want to pick up for someone else while I’m there.”

“Someone else?”

She took out some notes to pay for their lunch. “A new potential business partner. Someone I went to school with and reconnected to recently. Funnily enough, the last wizard the Ministry tried to push me into marriage with.”

That got his attention. “Should I be concerned?”

She had to chuckle. “No. Not when it comes to Draco. He was over the moon for Astoria Greengrass but they were having trouble getting the Ministry to sign off on their marriage license. The moment the Ministry brought up his name I ran back to Cambridge and enrolled in their arithmancy program. He was so grateful that the Malfoy family paid my tuition for all three years. They did eventually get married and I believe I remember hearing they have a son now. Named him ‘Scorpius’, the poor baby. Draco’s mother was a Black and they tend to name their children after stars and constellations.”

“And now you’re to be business partners?”

“Surprised me, too. I came home from my meeting at the Ministry and found him waiting on my front step, ready to offer to help me get into the Potions Mastery program if I wanted to try holding them off a bit longer. He says it was either that or see if I might be willing to become his employee now that I had not one but two masteries under my belt. When he saw what I had been doing in my spare time he instead offered to go into business with me.” She flipped a page and made another note. “That reminds me, I need to check with my solicitor about that initial proposal I dropped off for his review.”

The book seller she’d chosen wasn’t that far as things were measured in modern day London. They opted to walk rather than go back down to the underground. A mid-level shop, a bit larger than the usual ‘mom and pop’ establishment but still having the warmth and welcoming atmosphere the big box sellers often lost. It catered to a more scholastically bent crowd so she knew they’d have quite the variety to choose from.

“What is it you will be working on?”

“Finding ways to make Muggle technology work around magic.” She reached into her handbag and pulled out her little Samsung. “These, for example. It’s a telephone, but unlike that you may have seen in the visitor entrance, this one is wireless. There were a few older models on display at the museum though they could stand with updating that particular exhibit.” She waved it while pointing up. “The signals are sent through the air, allowing me to speak to someone with another phone to receive the signals. I started carrying one at uni so I could keep in touch with my muggle professors and fellow students. Now I keep it because it’s convenient and I can keep in touch with the friends I made during my studies. This is something other muggleborns and half bloods are growing up with. If I can fix it so that they work in a heavily magical environment such as Hogwarts then those students would have an easier time keeping in touch with their families without neighbors raising brows at owls coming and going all the time. And a phone call is far quicker than owl post.”

She let him hold it as they made their way into the shop. She exchanged pleasantries with the owner before heading back towards the tech section. She was thinking the ‘Dummies’ books would be a good place for Draco to start.

“I can see where finding something other than owl post could help with the statute of secrecy could and be useful, but do you find our world so uncomfortable that you feel the need to bend it to the muggle one?”

It took her aback. “What? That’s not my intention at all! I just… I just think that we’re letting ourselves fall behind by not paying more attention to the advancement Muggles make. So many wizards still think of muggles as clever children and ignore what they can do. It’s a foolish mistake on their part.”

Hermione looked around them and took Metis by the elbow, guiding him through the tall shelves filled with books to a quiet reading corner. Once there she jiggled her wand from its hiding place and cast a few quick charms to encourage other patrons to avoid this area and to not hear or notice anything. That done, she dug her mobile from the front pocket of her bag and flipped it open. “Do you have your wand on you?”

He arched a brow in her direction. “Of course.”

“Good.” She aimed the phone in his direction. “Transfigure that chair into something. Anything.” He looked perplexed but removed his wand from his sleeve and turned the cozy little chair into a plump pig. “Good. Now turn it back.” He did so. She moved over and angled the screen so he could watch. He did so, seeing the new footage of himself performing the magic.

Now both brows rose up.

“It’s not the best quality and this phone doesn’t have the memory storage to hold much. My camcorder is far clearer and can record up to three hours of footage and sound. But the technology gets better and more compact every year. It won’t be long until there are mobile phones that can record video and sound at nearly the same quality as what you might see if you go to the cinema.”

She deleted the file and slipped the phone back into its pocket. “Last month a company in the US launched the beta of their new video hosting site. They’re calling it ‘YouTube’. Anyone is allowed to create an account and upload videos they take with the camcorders or the cameras built into their mobile phones so that others and view them. Anyone can view them. Once they are sure they have their servers and systems optimized to handle the demand, they plan to make it available world wide. A person will be able to film footage of their daughter’s dance recital in Atlanta, Georgia and within moments their distant cousin here in London will be able to watch it.”

She watched him mull this over in his mind. “Our days of hiding in anonymity are coming to a close.” He looked at her. “Can’t MCUSA just find a way to stop this… YouTube?”

“Not a chance. And even if they did, someone else would just do it. If not in the US then here in Britain. Or Australia. Hell, my money would be on Japan given that a lot of the larger technology companies are based there. And in case you missed it while we were walking around London, a lot of people have mobile phones.”

“Was this why you said MCUSA can’t do much to stop that author you like. The muggle who writes about wizards.”

“Butcher. Yeah. His books released on the same date in most English speaking countries that have a market for them. They didn’t have to print them all in the US and then ship them out. For the other countries the files would be sent electronically to the printing houses in the countries where they will be distributed. Even if they stopped them in the US, they likely would have missed it in one of the others.”

“I see.” He watched as she dismissed the charms. “If we allow ourselves to remain ignorant of such things, remain ignorant of just how quickly the muggles can share and disseminate information, we run the risk of them learning about us before we have time to prepare for any potential backlash.”

“That’s a rather dour way of looking at it, but yes. The world’s population is over six billion now and growing. The bulk of that population is muggle, not wixen. Magic is great and it allows us to do near miraculous things, but a round from a firearm will still splatter a wizard’s brains as easily as it would a muggle.”

She grimaced. “And people do fear that which they do not know. Muggles don’t have the market on that trait. Wizards are just as bad. Look how many of the old pureblood families react about someone like me. No offense meant.”

“No offense taken. You are right in that many old families have allowed prejudices and fears color their perception of muggle borns. There was a time when a child like you might have been… re-homed might be a gentle euphemism for it. An existing magical family with no children or children born without magic might have decided it better to claim you as their own.” An ugly bit of history, but it was the truth. It had never been a particularly widespread practice and there hadn’t been a recorded instance of it in over four hundred years, but it had happened. “How they went from that to claiming muggle borns somehow stole magic from wizards or witches I cannot fathom.”

He slipped his hands into the pocket of his jeans, his expression contemplative. “So the scion of the Malfoy Family wishes to embark upon a business arrangement with you. One in which the pair of you will seek to blend their technology with our magic so that we are no longer blind to it.”

“Exactly.”

“There’s a department in the Ministry dealing with such things.”

She fought not to roll her eyes. “The Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Department. I know it. Cursed tea pots and shrinking keys. They haven’t dealt with anything like what I’m proposing.”

“True. You realize you’re trying to potentially create an entire new field of magic.”

“Yes, and I find that both invigorating and terrifying. I’ve been calling it ‘technomancy’, but mostly in my mind. Though I’m not sure if it’s entirely new as I’ve been using a combination of arithmancy, charms and potions thus far.”

“Technomancy.” He rolled the word over his tongue. “A sensible title. How do the potions fit in?”

“I’ve come up with one that grows crystals better used to conduct energy off the grid, I can think of several other uses for them outside of mobile phones and computers, and another that works as a medium for charging charms so that the charge lasts longer. I need to work on both still. Technology is always getting smaller. More compact. I need to keep up with the drive or I run the risk of not being able to make something the blends in. Not everyone is skilled in masking charms.”

“And Malfoy thinks there would be a demand?”

“He does. He has seen computers in use when he deals with business interests in the Muggle world and understands that they can grant him greater access to such things. Then there are the communication advantages, of course. Most wizards view such things as little more than toys, and in doing so they’ve missed that much of the muggle world runs on computers of one kind or another. They are in the phones, the cars, the banks, the schools, the hospitals… everywhere. We are quickly approaching a time in which you won’t be able to easily get around amongst muggles if you aren’t at least a tiny bit computer savvy.”

“I think I might be starting to understand what you meant when you indicated the Ministry was doing me a disservice by keeping me isolated and not addressing changes in the Muggle world. So much change in only a century.”

“Man is made of progress. And invention is driven by necessity. Combine the two and humanity took the bit between their teeth and ran with it.”

She led him through the stacks. A couple of basic beginner’s books for new computer users for Draco so he at least would understand what he was looking at once she had his built. She foresaw a lot of time providing tech support for the pureblood. Here’s hoping he didn’t think his rig came with a retractable cup holder.

For Metis she recommended some sociology works on modern laws in the United Kingdom, histories on the Second World War and the conflicts in both Europe and abroad since then. Information on the rise of the technological age as well as medical advances such as the introduction of the birth control pill and the cultural shift after it’s arrival. He watched her puzzle of a few different options here.

“Cannot decide?”

“I’m trying to avoid exposing you to any of the more militant feminists. I consider myself a feminist, but it’s from the view of ‘if I want to be a doctor or a politician, then I have the ability to do so and should be afforded the opportunity’. I still think that if you are a women and you believe you would find your happiness as a housewife and mother, then I support that as well. Take Molly Weasley for example. Seven children in six pregnancies and the woman is happy as a clam keeping her home and raising those children. Now she’s enjoying spoiling her grandchildren. She doesn’t feel that she has slighted herself in any way by not seeking a career outside of the home and that should be her choice. Others should respect that choice.”

“You speak as though not all do.”

She shook her head and set one of the books back onto the shelf. “There is a portion of feminists that have gone radically in the other direction. They believe that men enslave us even today when we enjoy more freedoms than we ever.have. We had a female prime minister for pity’s sake! They see any penetrative sex as rape because they say that there can never be a balance of power between the man and the woman and scorn any woman who decides she would rather stay at home and raise her children herself rather than have a career outside of the home even if that means having nannies or schools raise her children for her while she pulls twelve and sixteen hour work days. I’m all for women’s rights, but I believe that it should be the woman’s right to choose what she wants to do with her life and it isn’t our place to scold her for it as long as she isn’t breaking any laws or hurting anyone else.”

“No balance of power between men and women? Truly?”

“To be fair, muggle women lack the ability to hex or curse their husband if he raises a hand to them.” She selected which of the books she thought would be less ideology and more facts and added it to her growing pile. “It’s starting to look as though I’m sending you back to school. Let’s stop with the real work texts, but I do think we should find you one or two things that are entertainment instead.”

“What of those authors you mentioned during our evening out? The ones you credited with improving the view of Muggle parents when it comes to having magical children.”

“Excellent idea. Tolkien is a must.” She found the trilogy in a handsome boxed set and plucked it from the shelf. “That should get us started.”

Hermione paid for their purchases, not even stopping to think that Metis might have been expecting to do so. She just handed over her credit card. He waited until they were gone to say anything. “Muggles now use those little cards rather than notes or coins?”

“Oh, no. It’s a credit card.” She explained the use of the cards through computer networks for using small lines of credit and the debit version connected to the holder’s bank account. A way to avoid carrying large sums of cash money but also the danger of over spending if you didn’t pay attention to what you were buying.

He asked her other questions about things he saw while they sat next to one another in the tube. It was just before people would start getting off from work so it wasn’t too crowded just yet. Was it truly acceptable for young ladies to go about with so little in? He had seen two men holding hands like sweethearts, was that no longer held in scorn? He had noticed how many people were using mobile phones but did they not also seem to be disconnected to those around them?

Hermione hadn’t realize how odd some things might seem to him. His observation of how mobile phones might be impacting social interaction apart from the conversation on the phone itself made her pause. She wasn’t one to spend an hour on a single phone call and though she did text she wasn’t like many of her fellow students who seemed to even think in text speech at times. She supposed an argument could be made that as technology progressed there was a danger of interpersonal relationships falling to the wayside.

It didn’t change the fact that the magical world needed to pull its head out of the sand and catch up to the times.

She got him back to the Ministry safe and sound. It had been a long day and the bulk of the people working there were starting to file home, leaving them swimming against the tide. They did manage to make their way to a lift headed in the proper direction and back down to the DOM. just in time to meet Wizard Bulstrode on his way out.

“Miss Granger! Metis. I see you have survived your excursion.”

Metis gave a nod. “I have. And I have some study materials to go over.”

Bulstrode’s eyebrows came close to disappearing into his hairline. “She gave you homework?” She felt her face heat up. “I don’t know why that would surprise me, actually. I would go ahead with your post-outing interviews, but if I’m late for supper again my wife may very well kill me. Miss Granger, could I trouble you to come to my office tomorrow? About two?”

“That should be fine.”

“Good. Good. I will see you again.”

He made his farewells and got into the queue for the floo. Hermione walked with Metis until hey were at the entrance leading to the ‘flats’ set up for the Resurrected wizards and witches. Suddenly she was feeling… not shy so much as uncertain.

“I… I hope I didn’t bore you. Dragging you around to museums and book shops.”

“I don’t believe I have ever been bored by a book shop. And I found the museum fascinating. I learned a great deal. Even in my day there were many wizards who kept themselves so separated from the muggle world that they would not have known any of those things that were around even then. I can recognize your concerns over us keeping ourselves apart. At this point it can almost be seen a willful ignorance rather than just an over site. You’ve given me a good deal to think over.”

She relaxed somewhat. “Oh, good. And thank you for letting me ramble on like I did. It’s… refreshing.”

“How so?”

“Well, back in school my friends were mostly a couple of boys with quidditch on the brain. Their eyes would always glass over when I got started.”

That got a deep chuckle out of him. “I remember that expression. I saw it often in the eyes of my dorm mates. Usually when I got going over one thing or another. It is a pain with which I am well aware. As I recall, they often had ‘quidditch on the brain’ as well.”

His smile softened and he reached for her hand, lifting it up so he could press a kiss against her fingers. “It was a lovely outing. Even better, it was an informative and educational one. Those were always my favorite. I look forward to seeing you again, Hermione.” His lips wrapped around her name. Lingered over it. She let her cheeks warm up again.

“I had a lovely time as well… Metis. I also look forward to seeing you again.”

With a final squeeze of her fingers he released her hand and let himself into the ‘apartment’ section of the DOM. Hermione took a moment to look at the closed door before shaking her head clear and hurrying off.

“Should I be concerned that you gave me a book that say it’s ‘for dummies’?”

She grinned as she carefully but firmly pushed the video card into its slot on the motherboard. “There’s an entire line of books like that. It just means they have broken things down to a layman’s level of understanding rather than coming at you as though you have a four year degree in the subject matter. It’s meant to be funny.”

“Well I’ve read it, and I’m not sure I understand it still.”

“I’m sure you’ll find a lot of things click into place once you actually have a computer to use it all on.”

Draco was looking through the software boxes she had stacked up. “Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing?”

“You ever use a type writer?”

“No, can’t say that I have.”

“Then you’ll thank me for that one later, I assure you. Use that program for a few weeks or months and you’ll be touch typing like a professional clerk. It’ll make your life a whole lot easier.”

“You speak as though you know from experience.”

“I am. I’d had little experience with typing either. Hogwarts was all quills and parchment. When you’re working with computers, however, you need to be able to touch type or you’ll drown. It’ll go over 10-keying, too. Great skill to have when dealing with accounting or finance.”

She was was elbow deep in the case when she yelped and drew her hand back to suckle on her knuckle.

“You okay?”

“Occupational hazard, although now it should work like a dream since I’ve made my blood sacrifice to the computer gods.”

Draco cocked his head to the side. “There are gods over computers?”

She sniggered. “No, it’s just a saying. The connectors can be sharp and it’s not uncommon to nick yourself on them. People do it all the time. The joke is that the systems seem to work better after you do. It’s just geeky superstition.”

“Geeky? As in geek? Like the people that would travel with carnivals and bite the heads off of chickens?” His brow was furrowed in confusion.

“The word has changed meaning. Now it refers to a know-it-all, like a swot. There are different sorts of geeks now. Computer geeks. Movie geeks. Gamer geeks. Another acceptable word is ‘nerd’.”

“So… people like you.”

She beamed. “Exactly.”

He gave a snort of amusement. “But, seriously Granger. You ever hear of Hilliard’s Law?”

She thought on it for a moment, searching through her inner library. “Hilliard’s Law… the one that says the ideas and thoughts of a group can affect magic over time?”

“Right. How do you know that over time the ‘joke’ about blood sacrifice hasn’t borne fruit? Hilliard’s theories were often discounted because he believed that muggles weren’t entirely devoid of magic, just that they had such minute quantities that they could not willfully use it. He believed that the belief of muggles when held by a group could impact magic itself. It was his theory behind ‘miracles’ that could not be linked to a wizard or witch.”

Hermione considered it. She’d read about Hilliard’s, but not in great depth. He was just another scholar mentioned in a few of her books covering multiple ideas or ideologies. “I’m surprised you were allowed to read such a theory, Draco.”

“I never told my father I did. I promise you. Theo introduced me to it. He never told his father, either. He was Slytherin’s version of you; a swotty little book worm. Said the hat wanted to put him in Ravenclaw but he begged for Slytherin instead because he father would have killed him.”

“Lovely.”

“Yeah, well, Thoros was an arse. I don’t think Theo mourned him much.” He nodded to the open case. “Is there a way you can check?”

There was. She slipped her wand from its holster on her forearm and cast a light diagnostic charm. A gentle blue light ran over the inside of the case and she saw what she was looking for. “Here. It’s faint, but it’s there. Right where I nicked myself but growing.” She leaned aside to allow him space to look. “It could just be because it’s my blood and I’m a witch. I’d have to crack open some builds put together by muggles to compare.”

“So.. we can’t rule it out.”

“No, we can’t. And if it pans out, it could give me better insight on how to improve the builds overall and get a tighter meld between tech and magic.” She beamed up at him. “Way to think outside of the box, partner!”

He buffed his nails against his business robes. “I am almost as clever as I am good looking.”

“And so modest. How ever do you fit that ego through the doorways?”

He waggled his fingers. “Magic.” He grinned at her eye roll. “So how are things going with your Zombie Wizard?”

She giggled at the description. “It is all rather morbid, isn’t it. It seems to be going all right. We’ve only had the two interactions so far, followed by our post-date meeting with my case worker who is the massive, scary looking bruiser of a wizard from the DOM. The other day I took him into Muggle London to the British Science Museum so I could show him the advancements that have happened over the past century. Then we had lunch at a little cafe and went to a book seller so I could get your books and load him up with some of his own.”

“Only you would give your date homework. What did he think of it all?”

“I think the group of girls in mini skirts and tank tops unsettled him more than the double decker buses and jet liners. Although I don’t think he was as comfortable as he tried to appear. He seemed to see my desire too bring current tech into the magical world as a sign that I was uncomfortable with being a witch.”

“I could see where someone might think that if they didn’t have any clear idea of just how far behind we’ve let ourselves become. What did you say?”

“I gave him a short demonstration on just why our ability to hide in plain sight is quickly going to come to an end.”

“That should do it.” Silver eyes studied her a moment and he set down the box in his hand, Quake Arena which she had added so he had some fun as well as work, and grabbed a ladder back chair from nearby, spinning it around and straddling it. “You know, I wasn’t kidding when I said I have contacts at the Ministry.”

She was in the middle of using a box knife to cut the film from the outside of a sound card box. “I never said I didn’t believe you.”

“My father lost most of his, but some of the people we went to school with are working there now and they know me personally. I have one or two in the DOM. You, me and Saint Potter aren’t the only ones who have some concerns about your sweetheart.”

“Calling him my ‘sweetheart’ is a little premature.”

“You know what I mean. There are others who aren’t comfortable with him being a Gaunt.”

“I thought they DOM was supposed to be secretive.”

“Not everyone in the DOM is an Unspeakable. And everyone knows about the Resurrected by now. Silence would be a lost cause. My friend there says that Metis being a Gaunt should have disqualified him from the program based on the last member to come out of that bloodline alone.”

She looked up at him. “Why did they go ahead with it?” He looked at her, his expression contemplative. “What is it?”

“Granger, I want word that what we discuss after this will not leave this room. You can’t tell Potter or McGonogall. You have to swear to keep it too yourself.”

She frowned. “Will it get you in trouble?”

“Not me, but it could cause problems for someone else. Someone important to me.”

He seemed serious. “All right. You have my word.” He still looked unsure. “I swear on my magic that I won’t repeat what you’re about to tell me without your express permission first.”

That seemed to be good enough. Draco gave a slow nod. “Metis Gaunt wasn’t the first deceased wizard their algorithm matched you with. He was the second. Apparently they weren’t kidding when they said you were a difficult one to match.”

That was news. “Who was the first?”

He grimaced and rubbed the back of his neck. “See, Granger… there’s a history that shows swotty little know it alls like yourself aren’t always happy with wizards their own age. They find us… lacking as far as a challenge. They want someone who is their match or better when it comes to education and knowledge. So for you they expanded the age range.”

“How far of an age range.” A thought came to her. “They didn’t pair match me to some obscure Malfoy relation who never married, did they?”

“Oh no! Nothing that horrible, no. They expanded it up to twenty-five years older.”

“So… old enough to be my father but not my grandfather. Who was it?”

“Hit nineteen years older. They matched you with Snape.”

She almost dropped the sound card. “Snape? You’re joking.”

“No, I’m not. You were matched with Severus Snape.”

“Did they rule him out because he was my teacher?”

“They didn’t rule him out. They tried to use the same magic to bring him back so they could try pushing you two together, but it didn’t take. It fails some times. It’s a new spell after all. There are still problems with it. Then you were matched to me and ran back to Uni. When you got done with that, they ran the numbers again and got Metis.”

“I honestly don’t know how to think about that. I could have been Mrs. Severus Snape.”

“Feeling sad about it?”

“No, I mean I actually don’t know what to think about it. He was our teacher. Knowing what I do now I can understand why he came across as such an arse. Like Sirius I think he got a raw deal and would be deserving of a second chance. And I know he’s clever. Well read. He’s brilliant at potions. I bet he’d be fine with me going for that third mastery. Pity the spell didn’t take. I might have been able to make it work with him. If nothing else, we would have been content to stay out of one another’s way.”

“The spell didn’t work because he isn’t dead.”

She couldn’t have heard that right. “Yes he is. I was there.”

Draco shook his head. “He’s not. My godfather is alive and living in a cottage on the coast of Ireland. It’s an odd cottage. He had it built a while ago and had a greenhouse built around it. It’s always warm inside and he can grow plants that usually wouldn’t grow in Ireland. Granger! You all right?!”

She had slowly sunk to her knees, her whole body shaking. Draco got up so quickly that he knocked the chair over and hurried to her, gripping her arms.

“We… we left him there.” Her eyes were focused on nothing. “We saw the whole thing. Saw Voldemort slice his throat. Saw the snake attack him. We were right there with him when he gave Harry his… his memories. I saw him die… and we left him there. He was alive and we just left him there!”

“Hey!” He gave her a little shake. When that didn’t work, he cupped her chin with his fingers and made her look at him. “Hey.. Granger. It’s all right.” She shook head head again, her eyes starting to overflow with horrified tears. “Yes! It’s all as it should be! You saw what you were meant to see. Granger, you said it yourself; he’s brilliant at potions. The man is a damn genius! He had one he brewed himself that he took any time he had to go see that old snake. Just in case the bastard meant to kill him.”

“P…potion?”

“Yeah. A potion. Remember that first day he billowed into our classroom? Remember what he told us in that prattish speech of his?”

She closed her eyes and felt the tears stream down her cheeks. “Even put a stopper in death.”

“Yeah, and the sone of a bitch did it. It wasn’t just him being a drama queen.” He rubbed her arms, his own lips spreading into a smile. “You saw what you were supposed to see. He was supposed to look dead, but even as he went under it started working on him. His body didn’t go missing because some death eater or werewolf drug it off. Once he stabilized to come to he disapparated someplace safe.”

“But why hasn’t he told anyone?”

“At first because he refused to go to Azkaban when he was actually working for the good guys. Afterwards because he refused to let people make a fuss over him.”

She wanted to laugh. Severus Snape was alive! The only man who probably had a harder time of it than Sirius. Who had been treated like dirt and scorned when he was working for them all along. “I guess now he’s letting people think he’s dead so he can avoid being shackled to some random witch.”

“Or some swotty little know it all.”

“Insufferable Know it All. Get is right.”

They both laughed and she hugged him. She needed to hug someone after learning this, so she hugged him. “Do you speak to him?”

“Sometimes. I visit him from time to time to let him know what’s going on. Take him my copies of the Daily Prophet. He’s reluctant to get a subscription lest someone ask questions about who was getting it.”

“Does.. does he have everything he needs? I mean… he’s not living in squalor or anything is he?”

“Do you know how much a greenhouse large enough to fit around a cottage and still have room for plants costs? He’s fine. You know how the goblins at Gringott’s are. His mother may have been disowned but her father regretted it later and recognized him later in life, leaving him the Prince family vault and all its contents. He liquidated the real properties ages ago. The goblins aren’t willing to tell the Ministry who has access to those vaults now and since he’s been recognized as a war hero they can’t try to claim them in reparations like they did all of ours. He never needs to work if he doesn’t want to. He dedicates himself to developing new potions instead.”

“Of course he does.” She let him go and wipes her face dry. “Fuck. Snape is alive.” She beamed at Draco. “Thank you.”

“If I’d known how happy you’d be to hear it, I might have told you sooner.”

“Did you include Harry with those updates? Does he know he named the last baby after him?”

Draco sniggered. “I don’t think he was exactly flattered. Though that could be because he got second billing.”

“Severus Albus doesn’t roll off the tongue as easily.”

“True.” Now they were both seated on the floor amidst component boxes and anti-static bags. “So… if you decide that this Gaunt fellow is just too evil for your comfort, I can always reach out to him and ask that he swoop in and save you.”

That would be a sight. “Billowing robes and all? That would be a sight. But given how little I pleased him during school he might just throw me to the wolves. Or to the snakes in this case.”

“No, he wouldn’t. He supported your move to pursue your education rather than surrender to the law. He seemed relieved you didn’t end up a Weasley. I don’t think he considered Ronald to be smart enough for you. And he was definitely relieved you didn’t end up with Potter.”

“Not as relieved as Harry and I.” She shuddered. “It would have been like kissing my brother.”

“And your name isn’t even Gaunt.” Draco shrugged. “At least, not yet. Do you think I could borrow that copy of his file you’ve got? I was thinking I’d like to take it with me next time I went up to visit. Get his thoughts on this pairing. I know the man seems to be on his best behavior thus far, but I’m still… nervous about it.”

“Oh, sure.” She summoned the file from her cabinet. “He probably knows more about Voldemort than anyone else. I can’t imagine that he didn’t look into his family background as well.” She handed it over. “Thank you, Draco. For everything.”

“Hey, it’s business. If the brains behind the operation is living in fear because her husband is a power hungry megalomaniac, it does me very little good.” He tapped her head with the file.

She scoffed. “True.” She shook her head, her face still smiling. “Let me get back to this. I’d like to send you home with your rig if I can.”