(A re-telling of Anastasia.)
Prologue: One December Night
Everything started off so wonderfully that night, no one could ever have dreamt of what was going to happen. It would be the last time that the royal family would be together. The last time that the palace would be full of music and laughter…
The palace in the village of Hogsmeade is where our story begins. The royal family was throwing a grand ball, celebrating the anniversary of the fall of Grindlewald.
The Dowager Empress Minerva was there as well, and was set out to leave for Hogwarts the next morning. The parting would be particularly hard on her youngest granddaughter Hermione. The two of them had always been close. It was just past eight and the palace was full of the sounds of laughter and merriment when everything went wrong and their happy family was torn apart… forever.
The Lady Minerva could be seen watching from her spot, as her granddaughter came running up to her after finishing a dance with her father. Hermione was eight and was almost shining that night as she ran to her, holding a piece of parchment in her hands.
"Grandma!" she said ecstatically as she almost jumped into her lap.
"Hermione, you shouldn't act so brashly," Minerva said, but she couldn't help but laugh as well.
"This is for you," little Hermione said pulling away and handing her the drawing. "So you can remember me when you leave."
Minerva took the drawing, and smiled at the sloppy drawing of the family crest, the lion. She laughed again and hugged Hermione tightly. Out of all her grandchildren, Hermione had always been her favorite.
"I'll look at it every night while I'm at Hogwarts," she promised, but then Hermione frowned.
"Do you have to go?" she asked sadly.
"I am afraid so," she said, stroking her hair. "I shall miss you dear."
"Why do you have to go Grandma? I'll miss you so much," she said and she hugged her Grandmother burying herself in the smell of lavender.
Minerva sighed. Her business called her away from her country and thereby from Hermione. She had made numerous trips to Hogwarts and she begged her not to go, but that night she had something very special for her. She pulled something out of her pocket, causing Hermione to gasp.
"Is that for me?" she asked in amazement, her big brown eyes caused Minerva to chuckle.
"Yes, my dear," she said. "I had it made just for you."
It was a small book, just big enough to hold in the palm of her hand, decorated with wands, owls, and stars. In the center of the book, was a large circle, which held the lion crest of the royal family.
Hermione took it and said, "It's so pretty." But when she looked up, she noticed a small boy with bright, red hair being dragged away behind the throne; but she quickly forgot about him as her Grandmother brought out a small velvet box. She placed it in her hands and Hermione stroked the box carefully before she clicked it open.
Inside was a tiny little hourglass on a chain.
"Wow," Hermione whispered. "What is it?"
"It is called a Time-Turner my dear," she smiled. "They say that the sand inside holds our precious memories."
She smiled as she took the Time-Turner and placed it, standing up, on the circle of the book and turned it. Hermione then realized that it was some kind of a slot and the hourglass was a key. Once Minerva removed the key, the little book opened up.
Hermione's face just lit up when the dancing figurines of little otters danced around. Otters were Hermione's favorite animals.
"It's singing the song, Grandma!" she cried happily.
"Yes, child, it is. You can play it at night and when I am not here, you can pretend that I am," Minerva smiled.
Hermione smiled shyly and started to hum along:
Hogwarts, Hogwarts, hoggy warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald,
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling,
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot.
She sang along, ending in a laugh. She never could get through the song without laughing at the words.
That was when Minerva put the chain around her neck and held it up for her to see. "Read it…"
As Hermione strained to see, she saw there were words engraved on the top part of the hourglass.
"Together at Hogwarts?" she asked. It took a second but it registered, "Really?" she asked and Minerva laughed nodding. Hermione squealed in delight and hugged her.
"I'll keep it with me forever," she promised.
She was just about to go back to the party when all of a sudden, the hall went dark, everyone turned to the doors and there stood a squat figure, dressed in pink.
Hermione's father, stood up and approached her demanding what she was doing here.
"How dare you return to the palace?" he growled.
"But I was your father's confidant," the toad woman smiling sweetly. "Why, am I not invited to this great ball?" she demanded and Hermione hated her girly voice.
"Confidant?" her father shouted. "HA, you are a traitor, to him and to this family. Get Out!"
"Leave this place, Dolores," called a voice, and Hermione looked up to see the captain of the royal guards standing there, with his sons behind him.
This angered the toad woman. "Ah, Arthur," Dolores said sweetly. "So ignorant, you really think that you can banish me? I am more powerful then you realize my boy. I bestow a curse upon the royal family. You all will die tonight, and I will not rest until you all are gone!"
"You have been banished for the practice of magic. Leave here now," Hermione's father called, and Hermione risked a step closer.
"Hermione," Minerva said taking her arm and pulling her back.
"You cannot make me leave here," Dolores said and he raised her arms. Instantly the huge double doors burst open and there stood an army of people. It was now clear to Minerva what happened. Dolores had sold her soul so that she might destroy the royal family.
"Get the family," Dolores shouted and the men started forward pulling swords from their sheaths. Minerva grabbed Hermione and pulled her backwards.
"Hurry children!" they heard the King called.
Minerva grabbed Hermione and they made for the nearest door.
"No!" a voice called. They looked up to see a couple small boys there, both with red hair, the younger boy was the same one she saw just moments ago. "This way, through the servant's quarters!"
"Who are you?" Hermione asked.
"It doesn't matter, please just come with us," the older boy said and he grabbed her hand and pulled her, Minerva followed them and the boys ran down the corridor to statue of a woman with a hump avoiding all of the men that Dolores brought with her.
The older red-head muttered something and the hump of the witch opened just wide enough for people to sneak through.
"In here," he said and Minerva nodded and pushed Hermione through the hole first. But as she did, Hermione had dropped the music box.
Hermione turned and yelled, "My music box!" she turned and ran back towards it.
Minerva, who just climbed in as well, heard one of the boys shout, "There's no time go!" and pushed her hard through the him and it shut. They were both in complete darkness. As the two huddled there, they could hear what was going on.
"Where are they boys?" a men demanded.
"Don't know what you're talking about," they heard one of the boys shout. Hermione then heard a man laugh and the sounds of a body hitting the floor hard.
"N—" Hermione tried to shout out no, but Minerva put a hand over her mouth and dragged her down the passageway. They didn't stop until they reached the exit and were outside… near the lake of the palace.
Minerva sighed and pulled Hermione with her. They had no choice but to get to the station. They could take it to the docks and bored a ship for Hogwarts there. Only there will they be safe.
After escaping from the castle, the two ran across the grounds to get to the train. As they attempted to run over the frozen lake, Dolores jumped out and grabbed Hermione's leg, pulling her down to the ground.
"GRANDMA!" screamed Hermione's voice. Minerva spun around to see her.
"NO!" Minerva shouted and attempted to pull Hermione from the toad's grasp.
"Please let me go!" Hermione pleaded as she kicked out.
"You'll never escape!" she cackled. Suddenly, there was a loud crack. Minerva looked down and noticed that the ice was cracking under Dolores weight. Dolores noticed it to and didn't hesitate when she released her granddaughter's ankle.
"Hurry, Hermione!' she shouted as she pulled her to her feet and continued to run across the frozen grounds of their home. She glanced back to make sure she was still down and saw that Dolores was going under the water… but the castle—their home—was now in flames. She didn't hesitate and she kept running pulling Hermione in tow.
"Come on!" Minerva yelled as they ran for their lives to Hogsmeade station. Luckily, the station wasn't too far from the lake. They reached the train station at Hogsmeade just in time for it to be pulling away. It was already packed full of people waiting to get on. Minerva was allowed onto the train but before Hermione could get on, the train started to move.
Hermione reached out and grabbed her Grandmother's hand.
"Grandma!" she cried reaching for her.
"Grab my hand Hermione!" she shouted as she took hold of her tiny hand, holding on as tightly as she could, "Hold on!"
"Don't let go," Hermione said with tears rolling down her face. As the train gained momentum, Minerva slowly lost her grip. Hermione tried to hold on but she tripped and fell, their hands being pulled apart.
"HERMIONE!" Minerva cried, watching as her granddaughter hit her head on the tracks. "HERMIONE!"
But she didn't answer. So many lives were lost that night, and while they all hit her hard, the hardest was the loss of her dearest granddaughter Hermione…
Minerva never saw her again.
(What do you think so far?)