AN-Going to give everyone a more in-depth look at what my first ever fan-fiction is bringing to the table. First off I already have A LOT of this written and know where it's going. This first section will focus mainly on my OC (yea I know how most feel about them but I love her anyways) and how she grows to become the woman she will be in the second part of this story. This will end up with two main storylines, my OC and who she's meant to be with in the end, and Dramione though the later wont happen until later on. I love time travel (Whovian to my bones), strong females, secrets, and romance, things I hope I have incorporated to everyone's satisfaction. Nothing M rated for a while but there will be for sure. Any mistakes or inconstancies or if you have a specific prompt just let me know. Oh and there won't be any review begging. I dislike feeling pressured to review as a reader and won't be passing that on to you. I'm doing this because it feels right. So after all that if you're still interested read on! Oh and anything you recognize is not of my own creation.
AN- 11-7-2013
AN- The chapters for this first part are really going to speed up for awhile- I'm nearly done writing Brea's Hogwarts year and am incredibly excited to write the second part which we have all been waiting for. what's a life at Hogwarts without a bit of young foolish romance? Brea has a few lessons to learn about herself if she is to help those she (and we) loves. -demi
1998-1999
Prophecies are Made of Winter
The dust was settling, and weeping filled the silence.
'Is this normal?' Hermione thought as she stood in the middle of it all. 'Is this the feeling I'm supposed to feel? I feel…. Empty and lost. ' She watched a family grieving over their beloved son and brother, his amazing future taken away by a wall of stone, her aching cuts and bruises were so insignificant in that moment. The sight of a trio of blond headed figures, a weakened father, a frightened mother, and their battered and bloody son quickly leaving the castle, the meeting of pale blue eyes as the son looked over his shoulder, full of guilt and anguish. 'Shouldn't I be cheering and celebrating? Following him?' Once they disappeared from sight, from the settling dust a white fox sat, watching the crippling scene before it. A mournful whimper the only sound it made. 'I wish it had never come to this.'
The flash of camera lights and the hollow sound of applause brought Hermione blinking back to the present. The day melted from the dark terror filled night of the past to the current morning sky full of clouds threatening to rain, a whipping wind pulling at her favorite Molly Weasley knitted scarf. She was standing on a makeshift stage along with Harry, Ron and Minister Shacklebolt, set up on the fields behind Hogwarts for the one year anniversary of the defeat of Voldemort. The stage was small and a simple white decorated with simple red roses. The grief on the familiar faces of witches and wizards seated and standing before them, she knew and felt only too well, watched as Kingsly finished his speech.
Tears came to her as she thought about the faces that should have been there. Family she didn't even know she had until last words were spoken, filled with pain and love. Instead of cries and pain this event should have been joyful and merry. And someday it would be she hoped. Someday this will be an awful distant memory and we will finally begin to celebrate.
The moment ended and Hermione followed the Minister, Harry, and Ron off the stage to stand with them, watching as the crowd began to stir and move about. Not only were the dead missing from the crowd Hermione had noticed the moment she had taken her place on the stage. There were certain families missing as well. Though deeply saddened by this she knew it was for the best. Safer for everyone. Years of deep inset prejudice were difficult to overcome whether you fought for supremacy or against it. Ill feelings against the defeated were bound to last generations.
"Well glad that's over…now what?" Ron said, his hunched shoulders and shoved his hands in his slack pockets, rocking back on his feet restlessly. Harry bowed his head, Hermione but her lip. Each felt a bit lost and unguided. Winning a war had its price. The past year they had spent helping rebuild homes and the castle. There hadn't been much time for them to recover from their year on the run, meaning the three young heroes still looked and felt underfed and tired, despite the endless cooking of one Molly Weasley. Through it all they stuck together.
Shacklebolt cleared his throat, passed a nod to Neville Longbottom whom was making his way to headmistress of Hogwarts Minerva McGonagall, to talk about last minuet apprenticeship details Hermione suspected. It was no secret Neville's ambition to be the next Professor of Herbology and she applauded his success.
"Harry, Ron I'd much like to extend the offer for you two to begin Auror training." Kingsley broached the subject suddenly. Both the young wizards looked up in surprise and eagerness.
"Of... of course sir! When do we begin?" Harry asked and Ron nodded in quick agreement, Harry's eyes had the first bit of excited light in them than Hermione could remember seeing in the last couple of years and Ron's wide grin was a welcome sight as well. She loved both boys as brothers, and even though despite many bets among those of the Gryffindor House, she and Ron's feelings never developed past the current level.
Wanting nothing more than for her best friends to find what happiness they can she gave each wizard a hug. Harry and Ron shook Shacklebolt's hand and agreed on the following week for training, with wide smiles they strode off to share the news with Ron's family. Hermione watched them leave with a soft smile, happy their lives had new meaning. Something to hopefully keep them out of trouble.
"And now for you dearest Hermione…" She looked up when Kingsly continued.
"Yes Sir?"
"I have a very important task for you."
Hermione's thoughts flashed the past eight years of her life. Already giving so much what was another task? Anything to keep her mind busy she took a firm breath and said "anything."
He nodded and with a somber expression suggested they say their goodbyes. Explaining that what he had for her was of immediate importance. Hermione slowly made her way to the Weasley family, unable to keep herself from examining the faces of the magical community. Whether they had an active part, or simply hid in order to survive, they each held the weight on their shoulders.
After hugging each of her remaining surrogate family members she whispered she would see them later but she had to leave. When she stood in front of a haggard looking George she could no longer hold her emotions back. George, the sole remaining member of the infamous Weasley Twins, sat slumped in his chair. The past year had been unbearably difficult, evident in his pale pallor, dull blue eyes, and clenched jaw.
A tear slipped down her cheek as she tipped his chin up so he would meet her gaze. His brown eyes meeting her she leaned up and whispered "His mischief has not left this world yet. And she is giving him a run for his galleons in the clouds." She gave him a tight hug which he returned surprisingly before she left for the gates of Hogwarts.
The feeling that something was just around the corner began beating through her, giving her a quicker pace. 'This must be vastly important to pull Kingsly from the one year celebration of Voldemort's downfall.' She thought to herself, her pace hurried to catch up with the Minister whom had left quite a few moments before her.
The moment she stepped through the gates she immediately disapperated to a small pub near a phone booth leading to the ministry. The pub was dark and for the most part empty, no one bothering the witch who walked with a purpose.
Meeting the minister at the lift inside the ministry building, Shacklebolt motioned for Hermione to enter and followed after. She held onto the rail to keep herself steady, calming her quickened breathing as it began to maneuver through a maze of corridors. Much like the pub the ministry was nearly empty of personnel. In a matter of moments the lift stopped and Hermione immediately recognized where they were.
"The Department of Mysteries" she said in a whisper.
"You are correct. There is something you must see…and hear." Shacklebolt said as he led Hermione down the many hallways until they came to the solid black door.
"Now Hermione I'm sure you remember the mess you and the others left behind in your fifth year."
Hermione bit her lip and gave a shy nod. She kept telling herself she was nineteen now and that was all in the past.
"Well" Kingsly said as he opened the door. "It took quite some time to…clean it." He said with a kind smile and she felt a cheeky grin creep onto her face. Looking around the almost black room where once there were towering shelves filled with thousands maybe more of prophecies, there was only darkness. Hermione followed Kingsly into the dark, the only light came from their wands which each held in front as they walked, and eventually the two came upon shelves of prophecies that had survived the battle that took place that day.
"Now while cleaning up this place we came across something which was lost once and very very important. A Prophecy…far older than we have record of. I'd like for you to hear it."
Hermione was shocked and her eyes showed it.
"Sir how do you know I will even be able to hear it?"
"Very good question. Records show only wizards or witches that hold the top level of authority in example the minister of magic can listen and…." He waited for Hermione's quick and brilliant mind to fill in the blank.
"Someone involved in it." Hermione whispered. "Sir?"
"This way Hermione. We have an important mission before us." At the end of the massive room was a solitary table with a small locked chest. Kingsley lifted his wand once again from his robes. "Now I want you to remember every detail Hermione and keep them to yourself. It's important. "
Hermione gave a firm nod and with a wave of his wand the dusty chest lid unlocked and lifted to reveal a small crystal ball around the size that had been Harry's prophecy. It glowed a bright swirling white as Hermione slowly approached the table. She looked closer and could see the crystal ball seemed to be filled with swirling snowflakes that had a bit of glow to them. They began to move faster and Hermione heard a soft voice fill her head. Hermione felt both peace and chaos, something she hadn't felt since a brief moment at Malfoy Manor.
"Brought forth on Winter's Breath, She will cross the impossible distance. Shown the way by the brightest of minds She will give back which was cruelly lost. Fighting for the world only when love is Her goal, once, twice, forever, time will weave its mistake until She returns."
Hermione's breathing quickened and her mind began to work as the words faded. Processing each words meaning, etching them in her memory.
"You must find this girl Hermione. She could right so many wrongs."
A pair of light blue eyes filled with longing and guilt flashed through her mind. "I'll search the ends of the Earth sir."
Six months later.
"It's important for you to come Hermione. The Weasleys' still love you like family." Harry said as he and Hermione walked for her office at the ministry. Harry was still in Auror training with Ron while the Minister had given Hermione her own office and with it included the highest clearance and every possible resource she could need in order to do her work. No one knew what she was doing as she was under the guise of training for the Unspeakables.
Harrys urgent pestering her into visiting the Weasleys was a weekly occurrence. She really did mean to visit more often it's just her work was a major time consumer. Following any possible lead on her mystery girl resulted in too many plans fallen through the cracks and forgotten, equally resulting in lectures from both Harry and Ron.
"I know Harry and I'll be there! I just need to finish some things."
"I understand why you are reluctant to come… the family just isn't the same anymore. But Mrs. Weasley sure knows how to lay it on thick. And it might do you some good though." Hermione nodded silently and gave him a hug.
"Mrs. Weasleys not the only one who can lay it on thick. I'll be there tonight." Hermione said with a roll of her eyes, and left a pleased Harry waving goodbye.
Once Harry left Hermione to her office she sat at her sensible desk and carefully pulled out the glowing Crystal ball. She set it on her desk and stared at it waiting for some clue as to where to keep looking for this so called savior. She hadn't much to go on and the hunk of ridiculous crystal had been quiet for six months now. All she knew was she was looking for a female. No age, name, whereabouts' or anything.
Hermione sighed in frustration and frowned. "You've got to give me something you oversized paperweight…."
-The sun was long gone as Harry stepped out into the frigid winter night air. The rising moon causing the thick December snow to glow. He looked up at the sky and saw a clear view of the brightest stars.
"Where are you Hermione…" he whispered into the night. The entire family had been looking forward to her having dinner with them and the disappointment was almost painful to watch, so he had left for some fresh hair, at a lost as to how to help his best friend and his second family in their pain. Not only did they lose Fred and Angelina, Percy and George were consumed with survivors' guilt, Ron lost Lavender, Charlie left immediately after the funeral for Romania and hadn't been back. And then there's Ginny. He loved her so much but he just couldn't find the words to bring their lives back together.
With his Auror training well underway, Ginny declined going back to finish school and instead joined the Holyhead Harpies Quidditch team. Tonight was the first time he had seen her properly in months and neither knew how to broach the subject of their feelings.
Harry kicked a clump of snow in frustration as he turned to go back inside to finish his game of wizards' chess with Ron when he heard a soul ripping cry echo across the dark distance.
-Hermione was just putting her papers away, preparing to finally leave and go to the Burrow for a short time. Tomorrow was a Saturday but Hermione usually made plans to come into her office for work anyway meaning she couldn't spend a great portion of time at the Burrow. The hour was falling late as it were.
Hermione was bent down to file a paper, muttering file names to herself when a soft whispering voice once again after six long quiet months, filled her mind.
"She comes."
Hermione sat frozen for a moment trying to place how this new bit of information would help. 'Coming from where? To where? Thank you for the rubbish information.' She thought critically while sitting up. She quickly wrote down in her notes the new information, including the time. She did a double-take at her wall clock, noticed the time and gave a very un-Hermione like curse.
"Harry is going to kill me!" Hermione yelped and she quickly fled her office to dissapperate from the ministry, her long coat summoned from down the hallway, went flying after her.
When she appeared at the burrow she saw Harry was already outside and standing near her.
"Look Harry..." she cut off as he lifted a hand to ask for silence. She took in his rigid stance and immediately went into defense mode herself, pulling her wand from her coat pocket. After a moment she heard what had Harry so tense. A cry of deep pain and desperation. Before it could fade away Harry and Hermione both leapt through the snow into a sprint towards the fields behind the Burrow.
Their run occasionally paused to listen for the cries of pain until after what seemed like miles of difficult running in the snow yet was actually only a short distance, the two finally saw a moonlit figure struggling in the snow. Hermione could hear her cries and as they moved closer she could tell the figure was a woman. She was dressed in a long white nightgown made of thin material. Her matted hair was nearly the color of snow and down to her waist. Her beautiful face pale and twisted in agony.
"Could pass for a Malfoy" Hermione whispered and Harry nodded in wide eyed agreement. As they made their quick approach the two noticed that she was for one very very young, maybe even younger than herself and Harry. And two that she was very far along with child.
"Miss are you alright?" Harry gasped out trying to catch his breath. Harry gripped her arms and she fell to her knees in the snow with a weak cry. Seconds later a scream of pain ripped from her throat and she clutched her stomach.
"Harry…" Hermione whispered. When he looked at her she pointed to the pool of blood quickly pooling on the white snow and the path leading from it. Hermione and Harry stared at each other for a panicked moment before leaping into action. Harry threw his thick winter coat on the ground and transfigured it into a thick blanket and they eased the whimpering young woman onto the blanket.
"Harry you need to stay by her head. Keep a grip on her shoulders and keep her calm. Talk to her get her name anything about her life or what happened." Hermione said in her take charge voice and knelt at the woman's side. "Miss…I'm going to help you and the baby but first I need to check on the baby." Hermione barely got a nod and Hermione repositioned by her feet and lifted the blood soaked nightgown to the woman's waist. "Ok…it looks as if the baby's head is at the opening. On your next contraction-". Before Hermione could finish her sentence the woman let out another scream and Hermione yelled "Push!" growling in frustration when there was no progress after several long moments.
"Hermione she's getting too weak, and I can't get her to say anything." Harry said his voice frantic.
"Stay with me sweetie. We need to push again can you do that?" there was no answer as the woman kept her gaze on the stars. Hermione could see she was fading fast…almost as fast as she was losing blood and soon would lose the baby as well. "Harry…hold her tight…"
Harry swallowed and held onto the woman. Her head lolled limply in his lap and he spoke to her in a gentle voice. Harry may have faced the darkest of wizards and survived dragons and Snape's potions class yet he was terrified out of his mind for the mother and child.
The next contraction came a moment later and the woman was now too weak to even cry out. Hermione thought fast. She knew the baby needed out now or she would be lost forever.
"I'm so sorry but this is the only way…" and then Hermione acted on instinct. She used her hands to gently feel around the infants head then used both her hands to reach further to grip the tiny shoulders and slowly pull the baby from the mother. Once free she quickly used her wand to sever and tie off the umbilical cord and wrapped the small baby in her coat.
The tiny being in her coat was a little girl and Hermione turned her to her side to give the baby a good swat on her rump in order get her to take her first breath. The little baby began to cry with a set of healthy lungs. When Hermione heard the sound she felt her warm tears fall down her cold cheeks.
In the next moment where once was cold still night air turned into a flurry of whipping wind and swirling snow. The odd thing was it was only happening around Hermione and the infant she held. Hermione felt entranced as she gazed at the baby. She was small and red, no hair and impossible to tell what color her eyes would be at this age. She stopped her great wails as a voice only the two of them could hear lifted over the wind.
"Love is her goal and her fight for it you will never know. This is the woven will of the Seven Sisters."
Hermione shuddered as the voice faded away and she held the tiny girl close to her. The suspicion that she now held the most important person in their existence, resonating through her bones.
"Look miss you have a beautiful little girl…." Hermione turned to the unknown woman when she didn't get a reply and saw the woman's eyes were closed and her skin had lost all color. "Miss?" she turned frightened eyes to Harry. He just sadly shook his head.
"I couldn't say anything but I think we lost her before we even found her." Harry said quietly and Hermione nodded sadly.
"Let's get back to the burrow…I should have sent out a patronus Harry… or thought to bring my purse but I was in such a panic because I was running late and-" Hermione's frantic rush was interrupted by her best friend.
"Hermione you could not have saved her. There was no possible way to get her to St. Mungos in her condition. It's lucky we were able to save her baby. Boy or girl?"
Hermione gave a defeated nod and stood prepared to leave the grisly scene. She was emotionally exhausted, cold, and filled with the need to know if she had at last found the girl she had been searching for.
"A girl. Possibly a very important girl." Hermione answered. At Harrys confused look she continued "I'll explain everything. We need to get to the Burrow and summon the Minister."
Harry nodded his understanding and turned to the woman laid out on what was once his favorite winter coat. He didn't feel right levitating the woman so he opted to carry her. She seemed so peaceful now that her features were no longer tightened in unbearable cold and pain. "How did you know what do to?" he asked as they walked as quickly as possible the way they had come.
"I read Harry…a lot." Came her exasperated reply to which Harry nodded and rolled his eyes behind it glasses. He should have known.
They finally made it back to the burrow with the moon now high into the night. Harry had never been so relieved to see his first true home since his body was numb with cold and the woman he was carrying was becoming more and more difficult to carry.
Hermione with her small burden stumbled through the front door on shaking legs, her work slacks covered in snow, and her favorite pair of loafers soaked and filled with cold snowmelt.
"My word Hermione, Harry where have…" Molly lost her voice as she saw Harry carry in a terribly still, young woman dressed in blood stained white. Hermione stood silently to the side of the living room next to the glow of a crackling fire warming herself and the new baby.
"Bloody hell Harry!" Ron exclaimed. He leapt over an overstuffed chair to help Harry lay the woman on the couch.
"Is she..?" Ginny asked hesitantly. Harry sighed and nodded, Ginny's unfinished question clear to all.
"There's more." Hermione said. The living rooms current occupants turned their attention to where she stood. She turned and lifted the baby from the jacket. Now in the light of the house Hermione was able to get a clear look at the child she had helped bring into the world. The little infant was small and pinched, hair so light she appeared to not have any at all, and her pale skin quickly gaining a red color that came with warmth. Her eyes closed from the exhaustion of being born and her tiny impossibly small hands were curled and resting by her ears.
As Hermione studied her features she ran a finger down the infant girl's nose, thinking about her possible future.
"Oh the poor dears!" Molly let out as she bustled over to the pair. "Come let's go get-"
"Her" Hermione inserted.
"-her cleaned up and fed." And Hermione was immediately thanking Merlin that she knew one of the best mothers in the world.
Once they had the baby cleaned, dressed in clothes that Ginny once wore and wrapped in a warm blanket of Molly's own stitching, Hermione sat in Ginny's room feeding her with one of Victories old bottles. Ginny sat beside her in sad curiosity.
"What happens now?" Ginny asked.
"Not sure. I suppose we try and find her family and hand her over to them."
"She's beautiful" Ginny said with a sigh. "I mean I know she's all red and wrinkled looking…yet she's amazing all the same."
"I quite agree" Hermione said, holding the baby to her. Ginny squeezed Hermione's arm and left the room, leaving the two to get some much needed rest, and for Hermione to contemplate that she might have finally found the one to save them all….the prophecy speaking for the first time in months….it was all too much of a coincidence, but for now all she wanted to do was protect the little baby from such a horrible task.
Ginny joined the others in the kitchen as they discussed their next course of action.
"Best step we can make right now is to follow the trail she made. See if we can get some answers that way. Find her kin….hopefully the father." Ron was saying.
Ginny spoke up "Hermione is going to have a rough time letting her go. She seems pretty attached already." Her mother agreed sadly and after a few more moments of discussing the nights events Molly and Arthur left to seek their bed, leaving, Ron, Harry, Ginny, and George in the kitchen. George had been silent through the entire conversation and Harry sat with a frown as he thought back to what had happened out there.
"What's going on Harry?" Ginny asked. She recognized the expression on his face well.
Harry ruffled his hair "Something happened out there. Something I don't understand yet. When Hermione… when Hermione held that little baby….just this unexplainable feeling filled me. The wind picked up and they seemed to…I don't know glow I guess. The panic and sadness I had been feeling had left for a moment. And this…feeling that something big…very big just happened. Something so important and every worry I had disappeared…just for a moment."
Ron frowned, Harrys description didn't bring any explanation to mind. "At first light maybe we will get some answers."
