Hawthorn Riches Chapter 1
Prologue Spring 1946
Cara Hawthorn sat on her bed tears running down her face, she'd just had a daughter. A beautiful baby girl, who she couldn't keep, her mother was horrified when her eighteen year old had fallen pregnant. Her shrieks upon discovering the father was a Fenwick, 'not even a third generation pureblood' she had sobbed to her husband Nicolas, had echoed through the estate for days. After ten months of confinement to the Hawthorn Estate Cara was free, but she didn't want to be if she would lose her daughter, her Imogen. Cara knew in her heart that the adoptive parents would most likely rename her daughter but she wanted, no needed to do this. A family in France had been picked out, the Moragne family from a long line of squibs now classed as muggles. Her parents had chosen the family, saying if the child was magical she could go to Beauxbatons and if not they were squibs anyway, 'practically muggles' her father had said in passing, hardly taking notice of his daughters tears.
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17th April 1955
The press was in an uproar, the Hawthorn line was finished.
The only recognised descendent of the Hawthorn line
Cara Adriana Selwyn nee Hawthorn,
died this morning in childbirth along with her stillborn son. Mr. Selwyn wasn't available for comment but our thoughts are with him and his family.
Although this reporter can't help but wonder what will happen to the famed Hawthorn fortune.
Cara had left everything she had received from her parents to her daughter or her first magical descendent. The Selwyn's who'd at least hoped the vaults would go to them, if not the Hawthorn Estate were severely disappointed. Over in France, Jane Moragne formally Imogen Hawthorn was showing no signs of magical signs and she never did.
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Chapter 1 Goblins, Boys and School Oh My
Hermione Granger heaved a sigh of relief, the memory charms on her parents Jean and David Granger had been reversed with little bother and no hard feelings. Standing in the Leaky Cauldron after leaving her parents for the first time in a week she nodded at Tom before going out the back. For years Hermione had converted her muggle money to wizarding currency at Gringotts, but she felt if she were to be an Auror, as Kingsley had requested, a vault would be needed. Four months after the Battle of Hogwarts and Diagon Alley was bustling, more like she remembered from her early years at Hogwarts. She grimaced slightly as she entered the marble hall of Gringotts; it seemed the goblins recognised her from her break-in to the Lestrange vault and escape on the dragon. Hermione shuffled to the counter rather sheepishly where Nagnok was assigned to her case.
'A blood and magical identity test are required?' she confirmed scathingly.
Nagnok sneered at her, 'Increased security,' he replied, 'can never be too careful!' Hermione reddened at this and fell silent, allowing the tests, giving blood to be tested, her wand (walnut and dragon heartstring, 12.5 inches, unyielding) well Bellatrix's old wand she corrected and finally an examination of her magical core. With an unconvinced and slightly disbelieving look on his face Nagnok escorted Hermione through a set of ornate gold doors to an office of sorts and asked her to wait. After ten minutes Hermione noted, an extremely old and frail goblin appeared with Nagnok. Something wasn't quite right she felt as she was introduced to Gringott, the Head Goblin and founder of the bank.
Hermione Granger was shocked; her mother was an unregistered squib from the previously extinct Hawthorn line. It wasn't that she was adopted, that was common knowledge it was the magical part that she couldn't get her head around. As she thought about it they travelled deeper underground to the family vault, her inheritance. In a daze she barely noticed the dragon being herded away by Gringott, followed by him stroking one gnarled finger down the door, she waited tensely.
'Blood is required for this vault Miss Hawthorn', Gringott said breaking the silence.
Hermione made a noise of protest at the name but stepped forward anyway, her hand outstretched for the goblin. She swore under her breath as she entered the cavern, piles of precious stones, money ornaments, paintings, cases of alcohol, locked trunks and other items filled the vault.
'I'd –' Hermione squeaked before trying again, 'I'd like a statement of what this contains please, if that's possible.' her eyes wide looking at the mounds of gold again.
'This vault contains eight hundred and sixty-five million and two hundred thousand galleons, six thousand three hundred and nine sickles, four hundred and nine knuts.' Gringott rattled off, oblivious to Hermione's face. 'The other items would need to be re-valued now, but forty-two years ago they were collectively worth-' here Hermione stopped him.
'How much in muggle money, pounds, would the gold be worth?' she queried weakly. Upon hearing the response she sat down, hard.
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'How much?' Harry asked not believing he'd heard correctly the first time.
Hermione looked down at the parchment 'Four billion, three hundred and twenty-six million, one thousand, eight hundred and sixty pounds and twenty four pence.' she repeated.
Ron was silent, he hadn't spoken a word since Hermione had said who she was descended from and how much she was worth. Harry looked around the library of number twelve Grimmauld Place as if for ideas, finally he nudged Ron trying to elicit a response to say next to the equally shocked Hermione.
'Merlin's balls Hermione!' Ron eventually moaned, 'you're richer than…Malfoy!' he finished with a flair of his arms.
'Yes Ronald, because that's always been my goal in life.' Hermione said tersely. Harry seemed to have recovered his voice for he was now asking if she was serious. 'Deadly' she replied her voice muffled by her hands, 'God boys!' she now giggled slightly hysterically, 'think what Malfoy would say if he knew I had pureblood ancestors!'
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4th August 1998 Morocco
Megan lay on the deck of the boat with Blaise Zabini a childhood friend, the two had for years spent summers in ancestral homes in Morocco. Megan's father's home was in Ifrane a colder mountainous area with connections to France where in winter it sometimes snowed, which was where Nathan her big brother was now. Blaise's family were from Tangier a coastal area near the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It was in the Med that Megan and Blaise were sunbathing trying to forget the horrors of the Last Battle three months previously, it wasn't going so well.
Blaise was talking about the battle again, he and his family had escaped pretty much intact he thought rubbing his shoulder absentmindedly. A neutral family they had fled to Morocco leaving Blaise in Hogwarts with the understanding he would make his own way but he had gotten held up. Over the last few months he hadn't returned to Britain and had spoken to few people, Draco after his trial, Theo and briefly Ash.
He was touching his new tattoo again, in the war Blaise had been hit from behind with a stray dark curse which had destroyed his entire shoulder. Blaise had been checking if she was alive when he had happened upon her unconscious body in a ruined corridor. His shattered shoulder was repaired now but Blaise, being the poser that he was, wanted something to cover the pale scar tissue which contrasted with his dark skin. Megan sat up blinking from the sun's watery reflection to shuffle over to Blaise's side, 'Your tattoo is fine,' she reassured running one finger gently over the delicate raised skin which was slightly pink, 'it should be healed by school.'
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18th August 1998 Malfoy Manor
Narcissa Malfoy watched as her husband exited the room, pointedly not looking as her son entered. She and Draco had actively gone against the Dark Lord, she lied to his face saying The Chosen One was dead, Draco had tried to save his life in the Room of Requirement but Lucius, she heaved a sigh. Lucius was under house arrest for eighteen months and had The Trace back on his wand to monitor his usage, he wasn't taking it well. There was a decline in Ministry owls he was receiving, business ventures and everything else Lucius thrived upon. Narcissa didn't know what she was going to do without Draco, although she conceded getting his NEWTs back at Hogwarts was better than the tutor that her husband had proposed who'd said if he had to stay then Draco had to as well.
Draco sat down in the chair beside his mother, in two weeks he would be returning to Hogwarts, he hadn't set foot there since the Battle and before that when he had run away with Snape in his sixth year. This was the place where Vincent Crabbe had died, where Dumbledore, Snape and countless others had died because of him, if only he hadn't fixed the vanishing cabinet then his family would have been protected and he wouldn't have had to go into hiding in his own home for a year. Draco hadn't coped with the guilt, the Battle of Hogwarts for him ended with Daphne Greengrass stumbling across him behind a tapestry, irrational and bleeding. In a haze of panic Draco had been running towards the dungeons after Potter had saved him from the Fiendfyre in the Room of Hidden Things, on route his dark mark had burned, with the kitchens that nearby he had taken a knife to it. Not his best moment of clarity he recognised now but since then his mother was watching him like a hawk, waiting to call a house elf to force feed him anti-depression potions. Perhaps school would be easier than home maybe everyone would be ignoring the ex-deatheater.
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26th August 1998 Lovegood
Luna Lovegood kissed her father on the cheek before running downstairs to the study. The entire house had needed to be repaired after her friends had visited while she was, away…in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor. It was strange to look around the renovated rooms and know her mum had never seen it like this, which was why Luna had painted the kitchen the same. The bright circular kitchen had been her mother's favourite room in the house, she used to say it was her 'outside view, inside'. Wiping at her eyes as she walked towards the door, Luna picked up her bag, held her wand tight and apperated to Addie's house. Adelaide was a fellow Ravenclaw who lived with her older brother Asher in Runcorn House. The two girls were now going to be in the same year as Asher, much to his dismay, since he was repeating his 7th year to get his NEWTs.
Adelaide opened the door to Luna, giving her a hug before asking after her, 'How have you been? Honestly, none of the usual 'I've got nargles looking after me' or any of the other stuff. How are you coping since you got out of St. Mungos?'
Luna had been recovering since her ordeal at Malfoy Manor and the Battle of Hogwarts (as the papers were calling it) although she wouldn't dream to think of not returning to school next week. The school she had helped rebuild and repair the damage caused from the last battle it had seen. Holding her glass more level she curled up into the back of the cushions, Addie mirrored her.
'Have you received your Hogwarts letter yet? I got mine this morning –' Luna paused 'it's odd receiving a letter from the Headmistress, Professor McGonagall.'
Addie nodded agreeing silently, since they had started at Hogwarts they had had four Head teachers, 'Yeh, Dumbledore, Umbridge, McGonagall, Snape and now McGonagall again!' Addie smiled sadly, recalling, suddenly she smirked as she remembered Asher would be in her year.
'Asher's going to be so irritated by that!' Luna grinned using her uncanny ability to know what people were thinking and feeling before looking to the door expectantly.
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26th August 1998 Runcorn House
Asher smiled over the letter Blaise had sent him, enclosed was a picture of the tattoo covering his only noticeable battle scar, a feminine hand would come into shot from behind the camera gesturing for Blaise to twirl. Not knowing the language the tattoo looked like ornate lines, squiggles really, he made a note to never tell Blaise that. His thoughts were interrupted by a voice from the floo call fire, he stood walking over to the hollow in the wall at head height to speak to Theo.
He could hear Addie answering the front door, must be Luna he surmised those two always knew when the other was around and he hadn't heard the bell, he returned his attention back to Theo Nott. Ash took in his friend's taut jaw and invited him through, within a few moments he was beside Ash on the rug by the fire.
'How're you holding up?' he asked.
Theo had been called in to provide evidence against his father and was finding relationships hard at home. Theo began to tell what it was like at Nott Hall, it seemed to Asher that Theo's mum hadn't agreed with her only son and felt her husband was innocent because his crimes were in her words 'only against muggle filth or deserving mudbloods'. Asher again offered up his house as a place his mate could stay, with his father being hunted by Aurors he was legally the head of the Runcorn family, Theo wavered before tentatively agreeing. To take his mind off of it Asher proposed a trip to Diagon Alley for school supplies, the letters had come that week from the Headmistress and her Deputy Professor Flitwick. Theo said yes so they traipsed downstairs to interrupt his sister and Luna to invite them to buy their Hogwarts items.
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Luna was giggling with Addie when she noticed Hermione, Harry and Ron exiting Madame Malkins, a small crowd of well-wishers and reporters trailing after them. The trio spotted them and made their way over to see Luna, the afternoon sun glinting off shop windows giving everyone in the street a glow. Hermione was first over her bushy hair waving behind her before she engulfed Luna in a hug. 'Luna how are you?' she asked pointedly, referring to her recovery since their shared experience of torture at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange in Malfoy Manor. Harry and Ron stood to the side looking slightly uncomfortable at being left with Addie who they vaguely recognised while Luna reassured Hermione of her good health.
Asher sped up from where he was, opposite Gringotts at the entrance to Knockturn Alley; Theo was beside him now as they reached his sister, Luna and the saviours of the Wizarding World. There was a silence as the boys took each other in, breaking it with a safe topic Asher asked, 'Are you three buying your school supplies?' nodding towards their packages. 'Nope' Ron replied a streak of pride evident in his voice, 'King asked us to join the Auror Training Program.' Ash grimaced at that, typical preferential treatment, no NEWTs needed for these three he thought watching Potter turn his attention back to Weasley. 'We'll be starting in a month.' he finished now grinning at his companions. Theo looked surprised at this news, 'Hermione, I thought you said you were coming back to school? You changed your mind?' Hermione shook her head reassuring Theo of her plans, 'I'm still getting my NEWTs', she said from between Harry and Ron, 'I might still join the boys afterwards, depends how it goes really.' Harry gave a sheepish grin at that, she was always joking that she couldn't leave them alone or they would cause havoc.
The Golden Trio as the papers had dubbed them said goodbye to the four, 'We said we'd meet Blaise at two.' Asher said as they parted. 'Oh!' Hermione interjected before they could leave, 'Can you ask Megan to return my owls, 'cause I really need to speak with her.' Addie agreed for her brother who seemed confused over how she knew Megan would be with Blaise. They eventually parted, the trio leaving them to their lunch while they then went into a small little known bookshop which Hermione had found, the boys protesting half-heartedly.
'Geez Hermione!' Ron cried as she made her way to the counter with her arms full for a second time, this time levitating more books behind her, 'What are you researching this time or is it for school…'cause if it is for school believe me you don't need all this!' he said taking in the twenty or so obscure titles stacked beside him. Hermione shook her head with a small smile, her voice low 'I'm researching the veil, you know the one Sirius-' Ron sobered quickly before glancing back at Harry who he could just see in the dim light was still in the shelves 'For Harry.' he clarified 'Just don't tell him, he's had enough on his plate we don't need him being…disappointed.' Hermione nodded at that before paying for her books, shrinking them down into her beaded bag which was charmed feather light. Harry appeared at her elbow, watching what she was using 'Memories' he said touching his mokeskin bag around his neck, Ron on reflex patted his shirt pocket which held his deluminator. The trio smiled knowingly at each other as they climbed the stairs, which were level with the uppermost bookshelves, exiting The Book Cellar.
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1st September 1998 Kings Cross
Harry and Ron watched the red Hogwarts Express leave the platform, Hermione waving from a compartment window her eyes bright. 'It feels wrong', Harry said to Ron, 'I mean apart from that blip in second year we've always been on that train with 'Mione.'
The two boys continued to watch the train even as it continued out of sight, a few people were noticing who were in their midst and were pointing them out to young children who squealed and looked awestruck. Ron smirked as reporters apperated onto the platform, he nudged Harry who pulled himself away from watching the families to grimace at the approaching swarm.
'Mate could be worse.' Ron reassured him Harry gave him a look which clearly said how, 'At least there's still no Rita Skeeter!' Harry laughed at that 'Yeh' he agreed as the cameras flashed around them, 'must remember to thank Hermione for that one!'
'Come and talk to me Hermione. I know for a fact you can't see them still.' Megan Jones called to her friend who had been standing at the window for the past five minutes.
Hermione sat next to her and picked at the sleeve of her shirt glancing intermittently at Megan through her hair. God this was a lot harder face to face, especially since Megan would know exactly what it would mean to be the heir to the Hawthorn riches. She looked to Megan who now seemed content to stroke her dog Labyrinth while she waited for Hermione to pluck up the courage to speak. The rules at Hogwarts about small issues such as pets had become more lax as Hogwarts couldn't afford to loose anymore prospective students over such trifle things. As she watched the forked tail of the part Crup part Labrador wag she wished she had Crookshanks to calm her, but Crooks was at home with her parents as he had been since Australia while she was on the run. Deep breath she counselled herself, she glanced to the door as she steeled herself to tell about her newfound heritage.
'Merlin Hermione just spill already. I warded the door while you faffed around at the window, you're good to talk.'
This seemed to register with Hermione who began her story, as she told of her mother's parentage the torches flickered on although neither noticed. Hermione told her longest female friend of her inheritance, her parents shock and her mother's refusal to take any money, the Hawthorn Estate, the lands dotted around the world and businesses she now owned and the partnerships she held. The girls spoke non-stop through out the journey, advice and questions being thrown around like sweets, it felt good to have someone who knew exactly what she had received but would treat her no differently.
They changed subjects once they had exhausted that topic, as they stepped off the train, Hermione scanned the area reflexively her hand on her wand until they reached a thestral drawn carriage. The girls stopped conversing as they saw its black leathery body, this was a true symbol of death Hermione thought sadly as she thought about those who had died. Megan was watching the students around her one foot on the step into the carriage, most of these students, kids really were watching the creatures with a sick fascination and horror as they realised why they could see them. Too young for death she thought as she settled down in the carriage, vaguely noticing the lack of a squeeze there was this year.
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AN - This story has been rattling around in my head for ages I finally got it typed up when I realised Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows was out in a few days!