by Van © 2023
		Chapter 8

The afternoon discussion of how to restore amicable relations between the Glăsióga and the Ministry of Magic went better than Hermione had expected, at least in diplomatic terms.

As for her personal situation, Hermione remained totally naked, as well as at least symbolically restrained by the behind-the-back slave-chain set of collar, belt, wrist-cuffs, and ankle cuffs, all with very loose connecting chains that at least for the moment didn't do a great deal to limit her range of motion.  She was very well aware, of course, that her bonds had the potential to magically become much more restrictive at the whim of her hostesses/captors.  Thankfully, however, the connecting chains remained long, loose, and un-restrictive throughout the negotiations.  And as always, she resented her involuntary nudity.

The setting was a small council chamber high in the main tower of Gikel Keep that appeared to be an "informal" working space for The Queen and her closest advisors.  The rectangular table was surrounded by comfortably padded and elaborately carved wooden chairs, and the one at the head was larger, more imposing, and throne-like.  Obviously, it was for Her Majesty's exclusive use.

The conferees were limited to Queen Gael, Nimue, Heddwyn, Enyd, and Hermione; however, Glăsióga maidens periodically and silently came and went, replenishing the large tea service in the center of the table.  Nimue and Enyd were fully clothed in their customary black gowns and Her Majesty and the servants in their customary green gowns; but Hermione and Heddwyn were naked.

Also, the Senior Giggle Witch present was unable to take part in the negotiations in any meaningful way.  Why?  Heddwyn was not only naked but bound and gagged in the same elaborate manner she'd been trussed up down in the Bath.  Also, Enyd's big sister was well away from the table and standing upright, balanced up on her toes in a corner, semi-suspended and dangling from a vertical rope passing from the back of her upper-body bonds and up through an iron ring set in a rafter directly overhead.  It soon became obvious to Hermione that Heddwyn was present solely for decorative purposes.  More than once she observed Nimue gazing at the helpless witch (especially her bound and bulging breasts) with an appreciative smile.  Hermione suspected The Lady of the Lake was anticipating the many ways she intended to "entertain" Heddwyn once she had her safe, snug, and helpless back in her cozy cottage.  Hermione shuddered in sympathy... even though she believed the Senior Giggle Witch deserved everything she was going to get.

Elspeth-the-Fox was conspicuous in her absence and was supposedly continuing her education in the proper management her newly emerged Metamorphmagus condition—and although Hermione had no way of knowing for sure, the Glăsióga seemed to bind and gag their "guests" as a matter of course;  Therefore, wherever she was and whatever she was doing, it was a safe bet Elspeth was restrained in some manner... and still naked.

As for the diplomatic agenda...

The historical details of the Glăsióga and Human rift weren't revealed to any degree of detail.  The kerfuffle had happened many generations in the past, in the earliest days of what would eventually be formally recognized by the witches and wizards of Britain as "The Ministry of Magic."

To cut to the chase, at Nimue's urging Queen Gael agreed to put aside her vague and unfocused resentment of non-local humanity and make a fresh start—on the Glăsióga's terms, of course.

On Hermione's part, she explained that while she didn't have the authority to negotiate a binding (so to speak) agreement, she would diligently carry the Glăsióga's concerns back to the Ministry once she was released.  (Hint, hint.)  Also, she had every confidence Minister Shacklebolt would be receptive to their position.  However, she pointed out, unlike Her Majesty the Minister was an elected official and not a beloved monarch, so to effect significant change he had to guide policy and arrive at a popular consensus.

"Politics," Nimue sighed, and all present nodded and rolled their eyes (including Hermione).

Hermione also revealed the ongoing effort to revise the responsibilities of the "Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures," and to find it a more diplomatic name. 

Eventually, Hermione's obvious and since desire for meaningful and intelligent change carried the day.  Queen Gael smiled, waved her hand, and all of Hermione's connecting chains vanished!  Her cuffs, belt, and collar remained in place, and she remained otherwise naked, but she was no longer even symbolically restrained.  Instead, Hermione was... accessorized.  Some clothing would have been nice, but Hermione had to admit the Celtic engravings decorating her steel "jewelry" was attractive... and progress was progress.

It was finally agreed that Hermione would return to London, brief Minister Shacklebolt, help him develop a plan of action, and the Ministry would present some sort of diplomatic response in no later than six months.  And, as soon Hermione would be visibly pregnant, Her Majesty agreed to accept the Undersecretary's correspondence in lieu of a physical return to the Green Wood.

Elspeth would not be immediately returning to the Ministry.  Her Majesty explained that while the Glăsióga were quite knowledgeable about Metamorphmagus magic, the Wood Elves were the true experts.  When the The Lady of the Lake took her leave of Gikel Keep, Elspeth would accompany her home, then would be introduced to the local Wood Elves for advanced instruction.  She'd report back to the Ministry in a few weeks at most.

Hermione knew that returning to London without Elspeth would make Harry very unhappy—but she was confident she'd be able to calm his quite natural concern for his subordinate's well-being.  Elspeth was in no danger and would be enjoying (so to speak) a unique experience, and sure to return to the Ministry with valuable new intelligence about the Wood Elves, and that could be invaluable to the scholarly community.  Hermione would help her write a monograph that was sure to be well received.  (Harry would roll his eyes, smile, and agree to let Hermione help him monitor Elspeth's situation.)

Also, Heddwyn (and those magnificent breasts that Nimue so much appreciated) would be spending the next six months as Nimue's guest in her cottage—but as far as the Glăsióga (and Hermione) were concerned that was not really none of their business.  The Green Elves had a fully qualified substitute, namely Enyd, and the Junior Giggle Witch was elated.  She would finally be able to prove her full worth!  It was a win-win for the Waara sisters (as far as Enyd was concerned).  And if Heddwyn would be "enjoying" a nice long vacation as the naked, bound and gagged plaything of one of the Green Wood's most famous and powerful fey, what was that to Hermione?

The meeting concluded and Hermione was invited (commanded) to attend a celebratory feast in the Great Hall.  Also, Hermione was presented with a black witch's gown, a variation on the Waara sister's ancient and revealing costumes!  A pair of Glăsióga maidens helped her dress, meaning they made arcane gestures and the gown magically slithered and slid under Hermione's steel belt and over her body.  She was finally fully clothed!  Was the coverage inadequately? Yes, but she was no longer naked!  Also, her steel bracelets, anklets, choker, and belt were now undeniably stylish accessories.

The feast was yummy and filling and the mead and wine flowed freely.

Finally, Hermione bid The Queen and Nimue goodnight and was dismissed and escorted to her bedchamber.  She managed to disrobe without being able to remove the steel belt, then slid between the sheets of the comfy bed and closed her eyes.

~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~~ zzzzzzz ~~~~~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Hermione opened her eyes.
 
A dim, silver-white beam of moonlight streamed through the panes of the bedchamber's narrow window, providing adequate light for Hermione's dark-adapted eyes.  She was lying on her back on top of the bed's disordered sheets... but not comfortably snuggled in their warm embrace as she'd been before.  Also—What??—her arms and legs were splayed wide and outstretched in a very businesslike spreadeagle!  And it was not by choice!  Taut steel chains linked her wrist and ankle-cuffs to their nearest bedposts!  In addition, equally taut chains stretched from her belt to either side of the mattress and somehow were secured to the wooden bedframe!  Only her collar/choker remained unattached, decorative, and hadn't become a stringent restraint!

"Oh... Drat and botherment!" Hermione petulantly complained to the semi-darkness.  She then squirmed on the bed, tugged on the chains, and found she had no more than an inch of slack in any given direction—Clink-clink-clink!—possibly two.  And of course she was still naked.  How could she not be naked?  At least she wasn't gagged.  That was something.  The disgruntled prisoner fought her new, unexpected, and insufferably unnecessary bonds with all her strength for several more seconds—Clink-clink-clink!—then relaxed.

Why? Hermione wondered.  The negotiations went so very well!  And the feast afterward was pleasant (and delicious).  Did I say something to offend The Queen?

Suddenly, a pair of female figures silently padded from the darkness, smiled down at Hermione's helpless body, and the prisoner-of-the-bed scowled in return.  It was the Waara sisters!

"I should have known," Hermione huffed, staring daggers at the black gowned siblings.  They had their wands out, so obviously they were responsible for her unmerited bondage.  "What is the meaning of this?  Are you trying to sabotage improved relations between the Ministry and the Glăsióga?  Why?"

The sisters exchanged an amused glance, then returned their gaze to the naked and spreadeagled Undersecretary.  Even in the indirect moonlight Hermione could easily see that their dimpled smiles markedly quirky.   Quirky-quirky-quirky! she silently fumed.  Merlin's Beard!  I am so very sick and tired of those quirky smiles!

"Sorry to disturb your repose," Heddwyn purred, but you'll be going back to London in the morning and I'll be going to The Lady's cottage, so we won't have another chance to, uh, chat."

"And by 'chat' my sister means have an opportunity to play with your naked body," Enyd added, thereby earning herself a sideways hip-bump from the big sister in question  "That was uncalled for," Enyd complained with a petulant pout.

"Hush," Heddwyn chuckled, then slid her wand into a pocket in the folds of her revealing black gown, reached behind her neck, and released the garment's halter-strap.  Only a little squirming encouragement was required for the gown to slither down her smooth, firm curves and pool on the floor.  She stepped free... and was now as naked as Hermione (albeit not accessorized with any steel "jewelry").  Heddwyn then climbed onto the bed and reclined against Hermione's left side... directly against Hermione's left side!  There was a lot of skin-on-skin contact!

"No!  Go away!" Hermione whined as this was happening, her eyes wide with alarm.  "Wh-what are you...  Oh!  S-stop that!  Stooooop!"  Heddwyn was running her smooth, strong hands over Hermione's stretched body... especially her somewhat flattened breasts and their inexplicably rigid nipples!  "Noooo!"  Her last protest was much more a breathless appeal than an angry demand.

Enyd watched with a dimpled grin as her big sister caressed, kissed, and licked Hermione's skin.  "We decided it was important for you to fully understand how much the Glăsióga enjoy restrained sensuality," the Junior Giggle Witch explained.

Heddwyn teased Hermione's left nipple with her tongue, then paused to gaze into Hermione's blushing face.  "I understand The Lady has similar proclivities, as do the Wood Elves, to a lesser degree.  Has that been your experience?"

"Nooooo!"  Hermione gasped as Heddwyn's right hand slid down her taut tummy, between her splayed legs, and began caressing her lady-bits!

"No?"  Heddwyn exchanged another amused glance with her grinning sister, then went back to using her lips, tongue, fingers, hands, and the close proximity of the rest of her body to entertain Hermione.

"Perhaps not surprisingly," Enyd continued, "the Glăsióga believe demonstrating a similar appreciation restrained flesh to be an important qualification for the post of Giggle Witch."

"And speaking of giggling," Heddwyn purred, then began ruthlessly tickling Hermione's ribs and armpits!

Needless to say, Hermione's reaction was continuous, highly enthusiastic, and overtly negative!  She thrashed on the bed, tugged on her bonds, and erupted with vociferous laughter.

"Hah-hah-hah-eeeee-hah-hah-hah!  Nooooo!  Eeeeee!  Hah-hah-hah-eeeee..."  Etc., etc., etc.

"Don't worry about the noise," Enyd purred.  "All the bedchambers in the Keep are protected by very potent soundproofing wards and spells."

Heddwyn stopped tickling her helpless playmate.

Hermione continued laughing, giggling, and squirming on the sheets... then, in apparent exhaustion, she stopped struggling and tugged weakly on her bonds; but before she could lodge further protests or beg for mercy, Heddwyn planted a deep, wet, extended kiss on Hermione's startled mouth!

"Mrrrpfh!"

Enyd smiled and watched as the kiss went on and on.  Her sister's hands were back in motion, caressing Hermione's now visibly glowing skin and gently squeezing her breasts... and was it Enyd's imagination or was Hermione returning Heddwyn's kiss as best she could!  Yes... the more she watched, the more Enyd was sure the Undersecretary was responding.

"Well," Enyd sighed, then turned and padded away to the bedchamber door.  "I'll leave you two to your snogging and shagging.  I'm off to bid Elspeth farewell.  I understand she's back in her bedchamber, bound with green hemp twine from her toes to shoulders in order to prevent her from changing into fox form in her sleep.  Goodnight, Madam Undersecretary.  I'll see you in the morning at breakfast and the Leave Taking Ceremony."

Hermione's eyes widened.  'Leave Taking Ceremony?'  What 'Leave Taking Ceremony?'  Mostly, however, she continued tugging on her chains, squirming in the increasingly damp sheets, trying her best to ignore what Heddwyn's lips, tongue, hands, and flushed, glowing, and sliding body was doing to her flushed, glowing, and sliding body!

And Ministry Documentation Protocols be damned!  This was NOT going into Hermione's formal report!  Her personal journal?  Yes!  But NOT her formal report!

Epilogue

---

As it turned out, the Glăsióga "Leave Taking Ceremony" consisted of bidding a courteous farewell to The Queen and be granted her permission to depart Gikel Keep through the "Human Gate" and return to the Mundane Realm.  No bondage was involved.  Go figure.  Also, Her Majesty graciously gifted Hermione with an exquisite full-length witch's gown in the ancient, revealing style favored by the Glăsióga and their Giggle Witches.  The garment fit Hermione's perfectly; however, she thought (knew) she was inadequately covered from the waist up.  She wasn't about to refuse the gift, but couldn't help but blush.  The gown was black, of course, like those worn by the Waara sisters, but was lined on the inside with Forest Green silk in the shade favored by the Green Elves.

Enyd explained in a whispered aside that the gown's green lining was a great honor, a sure sign of Royal favor.  This was a good thing, of course, and a hopeful sign for the future... but even though she was now "clothed," Hermione was showing too much skin... way too much skin... and continued to blush.  Also, her stylish steel accessories, with their Celtic engravings, remained locked (fused) around her wrists, ankles, waist, and neck!  Hermione knew a spell that would probably allow her to remove her "jewelry" once she had the opportunity, but decided it would be prudent to wait until she was back in the Mundane Realm and away from Gikel Keep.

After the final farewells Enyd escorted Hermione through the passage leading to Giggleswick, and only then returned her wand.  Hermione thanked her politely, blushed even more as she also received a goodbye kiss full on the lips, then turned away and headed for the Black Horse Inn (ignoring the amused looks she received from the locals who were out and about).  Once in her room, Hermione used her wand to remove her steel jewelry, then changed into something more appropriate for an Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic.  She then checked out at the front desk, found a secluded spot, and used an Apparation spell to return to London and the Ministry offices under Whitehall.

Her first stop was the Auror's Office to brief Harry and explain the absence of her Protective Detail.  She succeeded in restraining Harry from immediately mustering a MLE Tactical Response Team and mounting a rescue assault on Nimue's cottage in the Green Wood, and also convinced him to accompany her to brief Minister Shacklebolt.  They were granted an immediate audience (preempting The Minister's busy schedule) and Hermione explained what had happened in Giggleswick (on both sides of the divide between the Realms).

Minister Shacklebolt summoned select members of his cabinet... and Hermione had to repeat the entire presentation.

It was exhausting... but bore immediate fruit.  Hermione was put in charge of a working group to address the ramifications of her "discovery" of the very-much-not-extinct Glăsióga.  It took months of hard work and precipitated the retirement of a few superannuated Secretaries and/or Undersecretaries in more than one Department.  (And that's right, Shacklebolt used the issue to expedite his ongoing campaign to clean house and reorganize the Ministry.)

Among other changes, when the dust settled the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures was no more, and in its place stood The Office of Magical Creature Relations (aka the "Magical Creatures Office").  Also, talks began to revise or establish equitable relations between the Ministry and the Centaurs, Merfolk, Giants, and the other sentient magical species that inhabited the Britain of the Mundane Realm.  At the same time, a select committee addressed labor relations with the House-Elves and Shop-Elves.  Enslavement of the House-Elves was abolished, and like the Shop-Elves, their relationships with their former masters became a matter of employment, with compensation for services rendered, strict rules to prevent abuse in the workplace, and the right of House-Elves to quit and seek employment elsewhere if their grievances went unresolved.

These reforms made Hermione very happy, but she knew the battle was far from over.  Changing well-entrenched human attitudes would remain an ongoing challenge.

And as planned, a formal delegation was appointed and made its way to Gikel Keep to begin negotiations.  The Glăsióga had specified that only witches would be welcome, and Hermione did her best to prepare the diplomats for the Green Elves peculiar ideas regarding courtesy and ceremony.

Hermione was not a delegate.  She was being kept very busy assisting Minister Shacklebolt with his political reforms.  Also, not returning to Gikel Keep anytime soon was very much to Hermione's liking.  She'd had her fill of naked bondage and toxin extraction, thank you very much, and she also had Rose to think about.  By the time the delegation was ready to depart, Hermione was "great with child," as the saying goes, Ron wasn't about to let his very pregnant wife traipse off to the Green Wood, even if she'd wanted to (which she didn't).  Ron barely tolerated Hermione's daily commute to the Ministry to engage in bureaucratic infighting.  "Mucking about with a bunch of green elves" was out of the question.  (Hermione smiled and let him pretend he was getting his way.)

Meanwhile, through careful and exceedingly tactful reconnaissance into the Green Wood, Harry was able to confirm that after spending only a couple of days as Nimue's guest in her cottage Elspeth was indeed being trained, educated, and counseled by the Wood Elves.  In fact, shortly after he confirmed that his subordinate was among the Wood Elf, Elspeth returned to the Mundane Realm and resumed her duties at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

The MLE had never had a Metamorphmagus in its ranks before.  Even Animagus Aurors were exceedingly rare.  In any case, there was never an issue of Elspeth not continuing her MLE career—and as it turned out, there were situations in which having a fox available as a trained asset turned out to be quite useful.  Who knew?

And oh-by-the-way, thanks to the tutelage of the Wood Elves, Elspeth was able to master the "Anubis Form" and could become part fox and part human!.  Elspeth-the-half-fox had what all agreed was a very pretty bushy tail, and her ears lengthened and grew furry points that poked through her long, straight, ginger hair.  She was very cute.

Anyway, Elspeth had many thrilling adventures in the years to come... but that's another story... or stories, plural.

As for Heddwyn and Enyd, after careful negotiation, the Ministry agreed that as their "activities" happened in the Green Wood in general and Gikel Keep in particular; the recruitment, management, and deportment of Giggle Witches was a Glăsióga matter; however, as volunteers for the Extraction Ceremonies were Humans of the Mundane Realm, the Department of Magical Medicine would have some role in the process.  The DMM agreed to keep a light hand, but established a Giggleswick office to monitor "medical visitations" through the portal.  It turned out to be more a matter of crowd control than screening.  Gigglewick residents retained preferential status as volunteers, but although the Glăsióga's services were not widely advertised, word got out.  Non-local witches and wizards who in their Magical Healer's  and the DMM's opinion would most benefit from toxin extraction were screened and referred to the Giggle Witch.  And as Glăsióga healing potions were now in increased demand, it was just as well the pool of candidates for Extraction Ceremonies was now expanded.

Heddwyn did, in fact, "enjoy" being Nimue's guest for six very long and eventful months.  Nimue played with her hooters on a regular basis and used her unique herbal magic to extract the key ingredient necessary to distill her prized wine and liqueurs.  Heddwyn returned to Gikel Keep none the worse to wear (and with her smile as quirky as ever) and bearing the gift of three pony-kegs of The Lady's best Boinkberry Wine, one for her little sister and two for Queen Gael.

Enyd had successfully proven that she up to the challenge of being a Giggle Witch entirely on her own.  The sisters' reunion was warm and amicable... but whether Heddwyn took some sort of revenge on her little sister for Enyd "allowing" The Lady of the Lake to kidnap her was another matter.  (As if Enyd Waara could have done anything to prevent Nimue from doing whatever she wanted to her big sister's boobs!  Get real!)  Anyway... what happens in the Waara sisters' suite of rooms in Gikel Keep stays in the Waara sisters' suite of rooms in Gikel Keep.

Finally, about eight and a half months after Hermione's return from Gikel Keep, Rose Granger-Weasley was born!  She was undeniably the cutest baby in any Realm, and true to her Weasley heritage, "Rosie" eventually grew a full head of magnificent ginger curls!

A few months after Rose's arrival, on a night the wee tyke was a guest of Nan Molly and Grandad Arthur at "The Burrows," Ron finally succeeded in talking Hermione into modeling the ancient witch costume Queen Gael had gifted to her.  The resulting "fashion show" was a big hit!

Afterwards, the black and scandalously revealing gown with its green lining was returned to its place of honor in the back of Hermione's closet, right next to the Naughty Wood Elf costume from Hermione's previous visit to the Green Wood.

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Chapter 7

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