The Golden Lady and the Ferret Prince

VII

Neville had to pause to think of how to explain Shiva Dakshinamurthy to Narcissa Malfoy when the words appeared on the parchment. The older woman had Conjured a stool to sit next to Neville as together they went over the words and phrases that came out of Hermione's unconscious mind.

"Lucius as a type of counselor?" Narcissa mused to herself when Neville finished his explanation

Neville said nothing, consulting the vital readings, finding that all levels were at the norm. So far, nothing Hermione experienced in Draco Malfoy's mind had upset her.

Two hours and forty-five minutes had passed

Lucius Malfoy had not returned to the darkened room, but Neville did not mind that detail. He found that Narcissa Malfoy, however, with her presence, soothed his worries. By being able to speak with her, his worry of how long the process would take, diminished.

A sound interrupted Neville's further explanation of the Hindu deity and he rose so suddenly that Narcissa Malfoy gasped.

He had just checked the telemetry readings only moments before, and suddenly, a small alarm attached to the vambrace on Hermione's arm was sounding. Her heart rate had increased exponentially; her chest was rising and falling faster—agitation.

"What is it?" Narcissa breathed, she too on her feet.

Neville said nothing more for a moment, his eyes boring into the parchment where only one word appeared.

Inquisitor.

It was Ebbor Gorge, the canyon Great Father had mentioned, and high above was light from a flat gray sky, casting the canyon into deep shadow in places.

The ground was soft underfoot, and as Corda drew her along the narrow passages, she remembered not to speak and kept up the near run the man-ferret had established. Corda glanced back often, and at times pressed a gloved finger to what seemed to be his lips for silence.

Hermione only nodded, still feeling dazed at the image of Lucius Malfoy as 'Great Father'. Her assumption had been correct about the designation, but she had not expected that Lucius Malfoy would be some sort of guru to Draco Malfoy. Then again, as children, it was clear that Draco Malfoy idolized his father in some fashion. As an adult, however, Hermione was not sure as to what role Lucius Malfoy played in Draco Malfoy's life.

Draco Malfoy was, by his parents' words, a responsible sort, taking care of the family, working to reestablish the family after so many years of social and financial persecution. That in itself endeared Malfoy to Hermione, if only slightly. It was crystal clear that Draco Malfoy cared for his family. Hermione would never forget Lucius Malfoy's actions on the night of the Battle of Hogwarts either.

Family first.

And then she thought of Neville and the lasting image of his deed that night.

Passing deep crevasses in the canyon face, Hermione could see darkness within. While she traversed what seemed to be the main artery of the canyon, there were narrower, darker passages branching off. These branches became numerous the deeper she moved with Corda whose hold on her hand was beginning to cause an odd pain.

Corda hastened his pace, and Hermione followed. The quickening alerted her to some sort of distress in the creature, something that was beginning to be sensed on the edges of her own perception.

Then they were running, just as something behind her seemed to chase.

As the walls came in closer, Hermione realized that part of the reason she could see the stark contrast in the dark crevasses was due to her body.