Hi there !
First of all : this story is an English Translation. I'm not the author of the original version (in French). So all the credit goes to Lyra Verin for her incredible imagination and writing style. If you like this story, don't forget to let her know by leaving a little review on her FFnet account.
I will post this translation as often as possible. It'll be available here, but also on my Ao3 and Tumblr accounts as well as on my website : The Writer's Lair. If you like my work, don't hesitate to follow me on social media and/or here, and to leave reviews. Don't forget that I'm doing this out of pure passion and love for the original work.
All that being said, I'll let you enjoy Private Course !
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Chapter 1 : Isolation
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Hermione was inveighing against herself. She had been incomparably stupid and she'll probably blame herself for the rest of her days. She screamed from the top of her lungs but her shouts caused no reaction. She also knocked against the door from the room she was in but it didn't even move.
A few hours later, she attended Bill and Fleur's wedding. The ceremony had been gorgeous and the following party was beautiful as well. Harry danced with Ginny while Ron watched them with a black look. Teasing, she had given him her precious purse made of pearls, "You'll at least have a reason to sulk", before leaving to talk to Viktor. Suddenly, a patronus appeared to warn them that the Ministry had fallen and, before she could join her friends, the protections fell down and a Death Eater had taken her.
Hermione was now locked up in a prison cell like the ones from the muggles' police-dramas. There was a table and a stool, a bunk and a bathroom corner with a sink. The walls were painted white and there was no light. A sort of porthole ornate the door, but it was shut since her arrival. How could she have drawn away from her friends ? Were they safe ? Did someone got hurt ? And, more importantly, where was she and what was the purpose behind her presence there ?
The solitary hours came one after another without any visits. After a long time, she finally resigned herself to lay down and doze. Later, the porthole opened and a package fluttered around in her direction. In it, she found a black robe and food she didn't dare to eat. Time still flowed by, only interspersed by naps, the women's screams of rage and the constant food arrival.
Judging by the frequency of those deliveries, the women reckoned that she had been here for five days. She hadn't seen or heard anyone and she seriously started to wonder if she wasn't gonna loose her mind. She finally decided to eat what was sent to her, saying to herself that no one was trying to poison her and that she would need all of her strength to leave this place.
She told herself stories aloud in order to prevent herself from giving informations to eavesdroppers. After what seemed like a week, a bigger package was laying there, waiting for her to wake up. When she opened it, she found various textbooks :
- Advanced Potion-Making, by Libatius Borage,
- A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration, by Emeric Switch,
- Advanced Rune Translation, by Yuri Blishen,
- Goshack's Guide to Herbology,
- A Compendium of Common Curses and their Counter-Actions, by Martha Levit;
- New Theory of Numerology, by Lukas Karuzos,
- Greatness and Impressiveness of the Dark Arts, by Nelson Carrow,
- Mudbloods and the Dangers they Pose to a Peaceful Pure-Blood Society
Except for the two last textbooks, Hermione thought that these books highly looked like the ones she should have used on her seventh year at Hogwarts. " Greatness and Impressiveness of the Dark Arts" was a really dark book and its presence on this pile called out to her immediately. The work about Mudbloods looked more like a propaganda than anything else. She left those two books in the cardboard box and started to skim through the other ones. At least now she had a way to kill time.
The days passed slowly, interspersed by the arrival of change of clothes and food as well as the witch's sleeping hours. No one came to see her. She busied her days by reading and rereading aloud the books that had been brought to her, including those on the Dark Arts and the Muggle-borns. Resigned, she stopped screaming, but anxiety rushes still got a hold of her on a regular basis after which she always cried.
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Hermione had lost count of the days when the door finally opened. A tall witch with blond hair, that she didn't know, told her to gather her things and follow her. The young women put the textbooks back in the cardboard box and added a few robes that she had received. She was lead to a real bathroom where she finally could take a real shower, something that she hadn't been able to do since her arrival, forced to clean herself in the sink. She was given new clothes and she noticed that it was an Hogwarts' uniform, in the Gryffindor's colours. She was utterly lost.
- Can you tell me where I am ? asked Hermione with a croaky voice. What day is it ?
The witch-without-name didn't answer and kept on guiding her through anonymous hallways. They finally arrived in a place that the young woman recognised as an Apparition and Disapparition area. The blond women took her arm and vanished with her in a distinctive "pop".
They arrived at Hogsmead and, once more, the older witch walked in front. Hermione was too stunned to try anything, especially without a wand, and she found herself in front of Hogwarts gate before she could even realise where she was. She saw Filch waiting for her and the caretaker silently led her to Minerva McGonagall's office.
Hermione was confused, she didn't know what she was doing at the castle. Was it possible that it was September 1st already and that a month had rolled by since Bill and Fleur's wedding ? If it was the case, where were Harry and Ron ? What happened during all this time ? What was gonna happen to her ?
- Greetings, Miss Granger, said a voice she knew too well and that reassured her instantly. I'm glad to see you here, I never would have thought that possible...
- Professor ? What is going on ?! exclaimed Hermione. I was abducted a month ago and locked up since then ! I don't know anything about what was going on during that time. I beg you, enlighten me !
- Unfortunately, Miss Granger, I can't reveal much to you, the teacher excused herself. I, myself, am under surveillance and I'm not free of my movements. The Headmaster informed me, this morning, that you'd be coming back for your seventh year. He also asked that you'd stay in my personal lodgings until he sees you in his office, first thing tomorrow.
- But, it's absurd ! Hermione cried out. How do you want me to stay here and finish my studies when Voldemort just seized control out there !
- Please, Miss Granger, don't say this name again ! It's a taboo. (Hermione took on a shocked look). I am really sorry, believe me, but I can't say anything more to you.
With a wave of the wand, Professor McGonagall made a plate full of sandwiches appear and told her student to eat and rest before her meeting with the Headmaster the following morning. She then realised that if the transfiguration teacher hadn't become Headmistress after Dumbledore's death, there was only one other person that could occupy that position now. Her stomach squeezed in horror and she wasn't able to eat a thing.
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The next morning, it was with an unbearable feeling of anxiety that Hermione followed Professor McGonagall to the Headmaster's office. Without a shock, she discovered Severus Snape, standing at Albus Dumbledore's place. Her anxiety directly turned into hatred.
- Sit down, Miss Granger, the former potions teacher ordered coldly. Thank you Minerva, you may leave now.
Hermione noticed that the head of her house returned a disdainful look to him and she repressed a smile. She waited patiently for Snape to speak up, in vain. After a few minutes of an awkward silence, the office's door opened again and Draco Malefoy entered the room. The witch frowned when she saw him coming closer.
- Sit down, Mister Malefoy. Now that you're both here, we shall begin.
Hermione observed that Malefoy seemed as unsettled as she was, glancing at her with shock and disgust.
- I summoned you both so I could talk to you about a new project that the Dark Lord and myself wanted to try out this year.
- Excuse me, Professor... hum, Headmaster... the young women stattered, but... can you explain to me what exactly I am doing here ? I was abducted a month ago and...
- Preposterous, Snape cut her short. You haven't been abducted, Miss Granger, you've simply been isolated to ensure your safety during an investigation.
- I don't understand, Hermione answerd? I don't know anything about that ? What investigation ?
- If you would just shut up, maybe I could explain it to you, the Headmaster replied (Malefoy smiled, half-amused half-intrigued). Since the Dark Lord took over the New Regime, a Muggle-Born Registration Commission have been created. Given your seeming origins, we obviously had to investigate you.
- What do you mean, "seeming" ? Hermione cut him off.
- Cease to interrupt me, Miss Granger. As I was saying, an investigation has been made. Given your incredible skills, I have to admit that, it seemed strange that you could be a Mudblood. After weeks of investigating, we discovered that your grandfather on your mother side was the last descendent of à long line of Pure-bloods. Apparently, your mother was a squib. Without the knowledge of her magical lineage, she couldn't possibly maintain it by marrying a wizard. Despite what a hand full of ill-intentionned people are trying to make you believe, the Dark Lord is magnanimous.
- Come on ! That's totally ridiculous ! Hermione shouted. My grandfather was a fighter pilot in the army and he was shot above the Manche during World War II when my grandmother was pregnant.
- Have you the audacity to doubt my word ? The Headmaster threatened. Could you, just for once, not ask any questions ?
- I... hum.. I... but it's impossible... the witch stuttered.
- Nevertheless, it is what our investigation taught us. And I can guarantee you that given your.. friends... it was done meticulously. You're not a Mudblood, you're just a squib's daughter. Not something to be proud of, but anyway. The Dark Lord doesn't like to waste potential and given your lineage, even if it's an indirect one, that makes you a Half-blood, he judged that you should have the opportunity to develop your skills in his service.
Hermione stared at him, puzzled. She was NOT a Half-blood. She knew that just as well as she knew that it was impossible to apparate inside the castle. She briefly asked herself what were her former Potion teacher's hidden intentions and could not erase the feeling that there was something fishy about her return to the castle. However, she decided not to speak up. She noticed, nonetheless, that Malefoy was staring at her with and horrified and incredulous look.
- Very well, Snape spoke again. We're not here to talk about your blood status. I summoned both of you here because the Dark Lord wishes to exploit, as best as possible, the skills of the people joining his ranks (he gave a dirty look to Hermione, persuading her not to say anything). The fact is, Miss Granger, that you're the best student of your age in arithmancy. Mister Malefoy, here, chose this subject but isn't really good at it, let's be honest. Now, the Dark Lord doesn't want any mediocre wizard in his ranks. It's your job, Miss Granger, to give him a private course in order for him to improve.
- I beg your pardon ?! the both of them shouted with one voice.
- There's no way I'm working with a Mudblood ! Malefoy continued.
- Come now, Mister Malefoy, said Snape, annoyed. Did you listen to a word I just said about Miss Granger's blood status ? She is not a Mudblood.
The young man watched him, feeling like this explanation was as cheap as a Knut. Hermione crossed her arms, resolutely keeping a closed face.
- As for you, Miss Granger, the Headmaster spoke again, maybe you noticed the introduction of a new school subject in your curriculum. Defence Against the Dark Arts have been replaced by Mastery of the Dark Arts. That's, without a doubt, a discipline in which you have shortcomings, unlike Mister Malefoy here. He'll be in charge of updating you on this subject.
Hermione looked at him, horrified. Malefoy seemed to gloat.
- One last thing before you leave, Snape stated. Obviously you're not the only students in this situation. Those private courses have been inserted between classes. You'll notice yourself that a room have been assigned to you. The Dark Lord and myself are really taking this project to heart. Please take things seriously. You may leave.
Hermione and Malefoy rose up at the exact same time and headed for the door.
-Miss Granger ? he called her back.
- Yes, Headmaster ?
- You'll need this, her former Potion teacher stated, handing her a wand.
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So... There you have it ! The first chapter in my translation of "Cours particulier(s)" (The original French version of "Private Course"). Let me remind you that I'm French so you might find some errors in my translation. Don't hesitate to point them to me so that I can edit and improve.
What do you think of the story so far ? Tell me !
