Author's Note: I began writing this story several years ago, the latest in a list of quite a few fics I had written and published. Fanfiction writing is an anonymous outlet for me to work through a lot in my life in addition to working on my skills as a writer. Unfortunately, someone in my personal life decided to track down my FF penname and read everything I had ever posted. Not only was it a violation of trust (in that they knew my desire to only share my writings anonymously), but they caused a good deal of grief for me by hassling me about the content of my stories and assuming that various details were based on my opinion of them. The debacle rather ruined writing (of fanfiction as well as original stories) for me for quite a while, giving me a writer's block I couldn't seem to overcome.
Tonight I'm feeling like it is time to break out of that rut by posting this chapter that has sat on my hard drive for years. I intend to finish this story, as it has popped into my head multiple times over the years and I have wished that I had finished it before now.
I hope that you enjoy the story as it unfolds, and bear with me as I am so very out of practice.
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A Slytherin in Gryffindor House:
Chapter 1
Year One
Natalya Dolohov walked at a brisk pace through her father's house, having been just informed by a house elf that her parents wished to speak to her. At nearly twelve years of age, Natalya had just hit the five foot mark and she was beginning to leave her childish features behind. Her long chestnut hair contrasted nicely with her fair skin, and there was almost always a healthy rose glow to her face and brightness about her eyes. It was no secret among those who knew her that she was abnormally intelligent for one so young, and her family encouraged her to use that intelligence to the fullest extent.
Entering her father's study, Natalya saw three people already there. Two she knew, her mother Irina and her father Adrian. The third figure, however, was entirely new to her. He was a tall man with long silver hair and an equally long silver beard. His blue eyes twinkled merrily, but concern was written on her mother's face.
"Come, Natalya," instructed her father, "sit with us. There is a matter of great importance we must discuss."
She did immediately as instructed, wondering just what the appearance of such a strange wizard might have to do with her. And of his status as a wizard she had no doubt. Even disregarding his wizards robes, it would be a strange day indeed that a Dolohov would allow muggles within their home.
"Things have occurred, dearest daughter," her father continued, "that have changed our plans for your upcoming year of school. We have decided against sending you to Durmstrang as your elder brother did, and instead will be sending you south. This gentleman is Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts."
"Hogwarts?" asked Natalya suspiciously. "Why would I be sent there?"
Irina Dolohov walked over and knelt gracefully beside her daughter. "Listen to me, Natalya. This is your decision, but you must understand what is at stake. The mark on your father's arm has begun to trouble him once more, and I don't need to explain to you what that means. We are prepared to help Dumbledore's friends in fighting against the dark arts this time, but he is asking that you help as well. In fact, perhaps Dumbledore would explain this better than I."
"Miss Dolohov," said Dumbledore immediately, "it is a matter of great importance that I wish you to help with. You know the stories of the Boy-Who-Lived, I am sure. He will be attending Hogwarts this fall, and I would like to see him well protected. An intelligent girl such as yourself would easily be able to befriend him and, shall we say, keep an eye on him. He has been raised among muggles, and will not fully comprehend the danger he is in."
Natalya considered the man's words for a moment before responding. "Mister... Headmaster Dumbledore, I'm afraid I don't fully understand where I might help you. Even my father will not be able to openly declare in your support, and so I hardly see where the daughter of Adrian Dolohov would be able to do any differently. Least of all by befriending Harry Potter."
"You are just as quick as your parents said," continued Dumbledore with a smile. "You, Miss Dolohov, will be attending Hogwarts not as yourself. We will show you how to apply glamours to alter your appearance, and you will be known as a muggleborn witch."
"A mudblood?" asked Natalya, shocked. "That's worse than blood traitor!"
"Natalya!" scolded her mother, "that is hardly fitting language for a lady, however correct you may be. Understand that you could hardly pretend to be a pureblood or halfblood, because then you would have to explain being unknown to all. Besides, it would take a muggleborn or a... a blood traitor... to befriend Potter easily. Pureblood ways are just too different from that of the muggles. I'm sure though that you can imitate them adequately. After all, you are not altogether unfamiliar with their ways, however above them you may be."
"So you will rob me of my remaining childhood in order to have someone close to one of your own?" asked Natalya, glaring daggers at Dumbledore.
"Many have paid a higher price," said Dumbledore gravely and without hesitation. "You would be doing the Wizarding world a great service."
Taking a deep breath, Natalya nodded. "Alright. If I were to agree… IF… Who shall I be known as?"
Dumbledore smiled and his eyes twinkled brighter. "You will be known as Hermione Granger, the daughter of two muggle dentists."
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Natalya stood before the large mirror in her room with her mother behind her, trying on the muggle clothing they had purchased and deciding what must be done for her glamour.
"It needn't be too drastic, dearest," said Irina. "We'll leave your beautiful chocolate eyes alone, but we must do something about your hair. It looks far too much like your father's did when he was younger. Perhaps... yes... there we are."
The image in the mirror had changed, and Natalya's sleek dark hair was replaced with bushy, shorter hair of a lighter brown. "It's ghastly, mother! It looks as if I'm incapable of using a hairbrush!"
Irina laughed melodically. "Yes, dear, which makes it perfect. Only a muggle would allow their hair to look that way, rather than using a potion or charm to just fix the problem."
Natalya stared at the image looking back at her, her heart falling a bit more. Yes, perhaps it was her vanity getting in the way, but what else would be taken from her before this was all over?
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The Hogwarts Express loomed before her, filling Natalya's heart with dread. This was a time for her to be excited over her studies and chase after boys, not bear a burden that should have been placed on an adult's shoulders. Although, she would be doing both in a way, just not quite as she would have liked. She took a few steps forward, edging towards the entrance of what would be practically the end of her life as Natalya.
Once on board, Natalya found herself aiding a young boy in search of his toad. Neville Longbottom, he had said his name was, and Natalya recognized the name as that of a pureblood family with an important past in the fight against Voldemort. Surely, she thought, this was someone who she would like to have on her side.
The search brought her to a compartment where two boys sat, one with black hair and one with red. "Has anyone seen a toad?" she asked. "Neville's lost one."
As soon as she spoke she realized things were starting badly. She was raised a pureblood lady and it was hard to suppress the training. She knew full well she was sounding bossy, but now there was no help for it. The red haired boy said something, but Natalya didn't listen. She was too busy staring at the battered wand in his hand. "Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see it, then."
The redhead stared at her for a moment before agreeing and clearing his throat nervously. His spell was dreadful, a child's rhyme and nothing more. Natalya tried to be kind about it, she really did, but it was just too dreadful. "Are you sure that's a real spell?" she asked. "Well, it's not very good, is it? I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard-I've learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough- I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you."
She spoke it all very fast, afraid she'd lose her nerve and just tell them the truth if she didn't. The redhead introduced himself as Ron Weasley, and the black haired boy was none other than Harry Potter. This was her job, her duty as laid down by her parents. Not knowing what else to say, she prattled on in her mind about Harry Potter being mentioned in several books.
In her mind, however, she was screaming. My name is not Hermione Granger. I am Natalya Dolohov , daughter of Adrian and Irina Dolohov. My uncle, Antonin, is serving a life sentence in Azkaban for his support of the Dark Lord, and for that reason I seek to undo the harm to our family's name by sacrificing my childhood. I am sacrificing it all for you, Harry Potter, so you'd better be bloody grateful.
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As they waited as a group outside the Great Hall, the words of Professor McGonagall had set her mind racing once more. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards.
This was ridiculous. All of it. Yes, there were good reasons for doing it. And yes, she had agreed to do it. But bloody hell, she was having to completely alter her personality... and that was assuming she managed to get the Sorting Hat to sort her as they needed her to be sorted. Headmaster Dumbledore had spoken with her about the Sorting process and what she must do, but Natalya was far from convinced it would work. By rights she should be in Slytherin, but somehow she was supposed to get into and survive the house that had been their rival for years.
She noticed that those around her were oblivious of what would happen at Sorting, so she began to whisper nervously about various spells that might be required for any number of tests. She kept it up until they were allowed to enter.
The Great Hall was semi-impressive, Natalya would grant that. But the way in which the others were staring at her as she joined the other first years to be Sorted was unnerving. She waited patiently as they went down the list and one by one the first years were sent to sit with their Houses.
"Granger, Hermione."
Finally. The moment her new name was called Natalya practically ran to the stool and shoved the Sorting Hat on her head. She focused hard on her thoughts, as Dumbledore had instructed her to do, practically shouting her thoughts so that the Hat might take notice. Please, I have to be in Gryffindor. I'm here at Dumbledore's request to protect Harry Potter. He'll be in that House, and I have to be there too.
It didn't take long for the hat to respond. Strange request, Miss Dolohov, but that would explain why they are calling you Miss Granger. I think you are more of a Slytherin myself, so it would be passing strange to put you where you wish. Very well, if it's that important to you... "GRYFFINDOR!"
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The first few weeks of school passed quickly. Natalya was getting settled into the playing of her character, and doing her best to think of herself as Hermione Granger rather than Natalya Dolohov. She succeeded in all of her classes, though that was hardly surprising as her parents had taught her what they could. If those around her believed her to be a mudblood and with no prior knowledge or practice... well... it wouldn't hurt anything to let them believe it. Except, perhaps, her pride.