A/N - Before I start I would like to apologise for the lack of disclaimer last chapter. To make it easier, I'm just going to say for the rest of the book that I do not own any of these characters or original storyline (unless specifically created by moi). I most likely won't have many A/N's throughout the series so I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has followed/faved/read/reviewed these few chapters, it means a lot. Anyway, back to the story!
Chapter three – The Farewell
*Hermione POV*
Flashback to five years ago – Camp Half-Blood, New York City
"But I don't want to go!" I held Percy tighter, tears streaming down my face, "I wa..want to st..stay with you and mu..mum!" I buried by face into his chest as he stroked my hair gently.
"It's going to be ok, besides, it's only for seven years and then we'll be together again." He gave me a lopsided smile, trying to hold back his own tears. Our mum watched us sadly, her own tears gliding silently down her face.
"Hermione *hiccup*, it..it's for the best. Poseidon *hiccup* wouldn't have asked if it wasn't *hiccup* necessary." Mum could barely get the sentence out before dissolving into sobs. Percy and I both reached out and pulled her into our arms. Even Percy had started to cry, he didn't want to have to say goodbye to his little sister. He was angry at our dad for saying this had to happen.
"Why does it have to be in England though?" I wailed, trying to calm down enough to argue one last time. "What is so important about me that I have to leave you?"
"Hermione I wish there was another option." We all turned tear-stained faces to Poseidon as he appeared next to us. He glanced down at me sadly, pulling me gently from my mother and brother's embrace and into his own. "I don't want this any more than you do, sweetheart." He stroked my hair gently as he continued, "Hecate told Zeus that you needed to go that school, and he accepted. There was nothing I could do." He heaved a deep sigh, "as to why you are so important – you are special, my girl. Hecate personally blessed you at birth with abilities the rest of us can barely fathom to understand. Where you are going will – " He cut off with a pained look. "Unfortunately, I am not allowed to divulge any more information than that. The Headmaster has already contacted us with information regarding your enrolment."
"I don't understand why she has to leave now and why we can't contact her!" Percy exclaimed angrily.
"The school term starts in September, which means she will have to leave now in order to have a few months to adjust to her new routine." He looked pityingly down at Percy, "you can't contact her because it would put all of you at risk. Certain steps have been taken to protect her from monster attacks and contacting her in any way would destroy those protections. I really wish it didn't have to be so." He glanced up at the ceiling as thunder rumbled across the sky. "My time is up," he turned back to me, pulling me into a final hug, "be not afraid, Hermione. I will be there, watching over you always." With that he disappeared in a mist of seawater, taking both his comfort and my hope with him.
I turned back to my mother and brother, both of whom were trying their best to look strong for me. Even though Percy was only a year older than me, I didn't believe I could be as strong as him. The week he had spent looking for our mum after she had been kidnapped by Hades had been the worst week of my life. I'd spent it at Camp Half-Blood, crying, training, crying some more. Luke had helped me through it, comforting me and training me. When Percy finally made it back we spent weeks together learning how to use our powers. Annabeth and I grew close as she taught me how to fight. I had been so happy and thought those times would never end. But of course, they did, and now I had to say goodbye for seven years. Dark thoughts crept into my mind: what if I come back and they don't recognise me? What if they don't want me? What if they see me as a freak? My face must have shown the worry because Percy grabbed my shoulders and said:
"We'll wait for you, always. We won't forget you and I hope you don't forget us. No matter what happens these next few years, soon we will all be together again, I know it." He held eye contact, daring me to argue. All I could do was sniffle and pull him close, holding onto him, pouring all the love I had for him into the hug. He was my best friend, my brother, and I didn't want to go but I knew I had to. We all said our final goodbyes, holding back the torrent of tears that would surely make an appearance once we had turned away. I took one last look at my family before touching the broken kettle that had appeared this morning, courtesy of Hecate. I felt a tug at my navel and got pulled off my feet, submerged into a whirlwind of colour and movement until suddenly, my feet hit solid ground in a large office full of small, ticking instruments. I glanced around to see a kindly old man with a long white beard and hair and half-moon spectacles peering down at me.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, Hermione Jackson." From there I followed in a daze as he took me to my new guardian's house, introducing me and telling me I was now to be called Hermione Granger.
Later that night I sat on my new bed, the tears finally spilling from my eyes as I came to terms with my new life. A life as Hermione Granger, a life without Percy…a life as a witch.
