Hey guys, its once more time for another update. I am grateful that you guys have stuck by me thus far, I appreciate all of the reviews and follows and favorites. Thank you to all and I hope that you guys enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoyed typing it. If you guys have any questions for me, feel free to ask them as I will make sure to answer them to the best of my abilities.
Chapter 3: A simple request
September 1st: Early Morning
Location: Platform Nine-And-Three Quarters
A gleaming sun, shinning on for all to enjoy. A new dawn, a new day. People of all shapes and sizes, of young ages and old. The scurrying of feet and pitter patter of young impressionable children. A lone train station, housing the mighty stature of the Hogwarts Express, standing proud for all eyes to see. Tearful parents, anxious children, hugs, kisses, promises of letters, eager waves of goodbyes.
"So many mudbloods," the tall intimidating form of Bellatrix Lestrange spoke, a grimace on her otherwise beautiful features. It was finally the long awaited day, the first day of a new school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"Hermione, you would do well to teach them who their betters are," Bellatrix instructed, looking down at the small frame of her daughter, she couldn't help but feel a small ping of sadness overcome her. However, this was neither the time nor the place, nor was it proper of a lady of her social standing and blood to show any weakness in front of other sorts of people, wouldn't want to give them the wrong idea.
"You'll do that won't you poppet," the equally tall and intimidating form of Rodolphus Lestrange spoke, clasping a hand gently on his daughter's shoulder, a simple nod from their child.
"Oh I almost forgot, I received an interesting proposition from Mr. Delacour the other day," Rodolphus spoke. Lucius stood a bit stiffly, not knowing where his brother in law would be leading the conversation, it was not something to discuss in open air. They did not need the word getting to the wrong people that they were seeking to attain the favor of the french pure-bloods. For now it needed to be kept a closely guarded secret.
"Rodolphus," the warning tone of his brother in law, earning a mischievous smile and a raised hand on Rodolphus' part.
"He has asked, if it wouldn't be much trouble, if Hermione and his eldest daughter exchange letters of correspondence, it would please us greatly Hermione if you would do this for mummy and daddy," Rodolphus spoke, much to the delight of his brother in law. His wife on the other hand, was a bit apprehensive, she to saw the advantage that this would have for them in aiding the Dark Lord's cause. However the thought that her only child would have to consort with half-breeds although influential ones still rather bothered her.
A firm nod and a light blush. A hug from her father and a promise of a letter, a kiss from her aunt Narcissa and a nod and smile from her uncle.
"Draco, remember to protect your cousin, we wouldn't want the wrong sort to try and associate themselves with her," a stern instruction for Lucius Malfoy to his young son.
"Of course father," a firm nod on Draco's part. A final wave goodbye and the two teenagers boarded the train. Ladies first, as the proper gentleman Draco made sure to give Hermione first entrance.
"I wonder if this year Potter will remember to be on time," Draco spoke with a sneer as they walked down the train to find a compartment, he didn't want to get one next to any mudbloods or worse Harry Potter. They were both startled when a compartment door slid open rather abruptly and the familiar face poked their head out.
"Draco, Hermione!" the shrill voice of Pansy Parkinson, another slytherin third year, exclaimed delighted to see them both.
"Hello Pansy," the calm collected voice of Hermione responded, she had thought the girl a bit much their first year and had not wanted to make friends with her initially, but the girl had grown on her the past couple of years. It was nice to have someone other than Draco to talk to, and Pansy had proven to be good friend, having had stood up to Millicent Bulstrode their first year. Millicent another first year at the time that had taken to bullying Hermione a bit, Pansy and another first year Daphne had decided to stand up to the girl and had since been Hermione's closest friends. Or rather as close as Hermione let them get to her, it wasn't smart to completely let others knew everything about you; it would put you in a compromising position and give leeway to allow them to hurt you, at least according to her mother.
"Hello," Draco responded with a somewhat smile, the boy was reaching an age where girls were beginning to catch his attention. Hermione and he were both somewhat glad to see their friends once more; it had been a small while since they had seen their fellow Slytherins. Having had made plans to see each other over the break and with trips planned by their respective parents it had been a while.
Entering the compartment and seeing to that their school trunks were safely put away on the above compartments, both teenagers sat down on opposite ends facing each other.
"You'll never guess what I heard my father talk about the other day," Draco began; he always liked to lead a conversation, always the leader never the follower not like Crabbe and Goyle.
"Mudbloods won't be allowed at Hogwarts anymore," a snide remark on Pansy's part. The girl had always been one lacking in tact.
"Unfortunately no, Potter was almost expelled," Draco responded, he had overheard his father speaking to his uncle about the matter.
This new bit of information piqued Hermione's interest. She hadn't heard either of her parents mention this at home. What had the boy done this time to get himself in trouble, it would seem as though he rather liked getting into it. Attention is what Draco called it, nothing more than another one of Harry Potter's attempts to get more attention, pitiful.
"What did he do?" Hermione asked, much to the surprise of her cousin. Hermione was never much one to ask anything about the Potter boy, always acted rather indifferent to the whole ordeal that was Harry Potter.
"Father says that he blew up his aunt, the Minister spoke to him about it, but let him off. If you ask me I say that they should have expelled him right there on the spot, keep his muggle loving self out of Hogwarts," the response from Draco was instantaneous.
Blowing up his aunt didn't seem like something Harry Potter would do, always the hero never the villain. Although that was tested last year with the predicament of the Chamber of Secrets, a notion proven false when it was Harry Potter himself that defeated the basilisk terrorizing the school and saved the student population. Intriguing indeed, with the news of Monsieur Delacour's request and the enigma that was Harry Potter, or at least to Hermione he seemed like an enigma she had always thought the boy curious although a bit brash at times and strange on occasion. This year was definitely starting out to be one filled with mystery, the good kind hopefully.
-/-
Location: Hogsmeade Station
The train had since arrived at Hogsmeade Station; students were one by one shuffling out of the train. Having long since changed into their school robes. Amazed first years looking on in wonder at all that was and all that they hoped to learn at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Older students chuckling to themselves as they watched the first years look on with amazement, remembering a time when they themselves had been first years and were amazed at all that they saw. A few looking a bit shaken, there had been an incident on the train ride to Hogwarts. Dementors had found their way onto the train and had caused quite an unsettling feeling of fear amongst the students. Thankfully their compartment had not been reached by the dementors by the time the teachers on board had driven them away. It was safe to assume that the ministry would be hearing about this incident, Draco had made it a point to say out loud to their group of friends after the Dementors had left the train.
Their group which consisted of Draco, Hermione, Pansy, Crabbe, Goyle, Blaise and on occasion Daphne. Although they had yet to see her, they would see her at the feast if not while finding a carriage to ride to the school.
"Hey look Potter's still walking, the dementors give you a nice scare," Draco taunted as they turned to see Harry Potter and his group of friends pick a carriage a little ways away from the one that they had chosen.
"Watch it Malfoy," the strong tone of Ronald Weasley threatened, the redhead had always been one quick to rise in temperament.
"Or what, you'll try to smother me with your second hand robes," Draco taunted once more, it had always been rather easy to get a rise out of the red headed boy.
"You gre-,"
"Ron, stop it he's not worth it," the gentle voice of Neville Longbottom spoke, he didn't like arguments in general least of all when they were with Draco Malfoy the slytherin always seemed to have it out for their gang of friends Harry more than themselves. And he especially didn't like it when the slytherin boy's cousin was with him during those arguments; he knew what her parents had done to his. They were vile wizards and he didn't like the reminder that their daughter brought to him every time he had to look at her. Her parents had taken what should have been a happy home life with his mum and dad, and yet had gotten away without being convicted. He knew, his gran knew, just about the whole wizarding world knew. But there hadn't been any concrete evidence to convict them and he hated it. Why did Hermione Lestrange get to have a mum and dad a home with both parents fine and healthy? And yet he could only see his parents when his gran took him to St. Mungos to visit. It wasn't fair, he didn't like her, and she in turn always had an air of contempt one of superiority, at least to him it seemed as such, she for the most part choose to remain quiet when her cousin would get into an argument with them.
After a few moments of silence, the red headed boy decided to concede and in turn nodded his head. Malfoy really wasn't worth it, in the end he knew that he was a slimy git and that was that. There was a feast to get to after all, no need to ruin his appetite; there would be plenty of opportunities to get back at Malfoy later in the school year. There was after all the Quidditch and House cups to win that would show the Slytherins.
"Sod of Malfoy," Ron Weasley retorted at the blond slytherin boy, and got into a carriage with his friends.
"Blood Traitor," was the only response from Draco, as he himself got onto a carriage with his cousin and friends, it was always fun to mess with the red head he always provided a laugh.
-/-
Location: Hogwarts – Great Hall
"Daphne it's lovely to see you," Hermione spoke as their group of friends took their usual seats at the slytherin table, the Great Hall was decorated as per usual with the hanging in mid hair candles and the starry sky above the Hall a few clouds here and there. The atmosphere around the Hall was a good one, or rather at least to Hermione it felt as such.
"It's wonderful to see you too Hermione, my sister wanted me to sit with her on the train ride she's shy you know wouldn't want to seem like a cold hearted person now would I," Daphne responded, this would be her younger sister Astoria's first year at Hogwarts.
"Ah yes, Astoria is finally starting this year is she excited?" Hermione asked, eyes looking over in the direction of the entrance door, the doors had just opened and the first years were coming in.
"If she's sorted into Slytherin then yes, if not well there will have to be a lot of explaining done to my parents," Daphne responded, her sister had told her about her fear of not getting sorted into slytherin, Daphne herself knew how badly her parents would react if Astoria was not sorted into slytherin. Their family had been in slytherin for generations and would hopefully continue as such provided Astoria was sorted properly.
"With her blood there shouldn't be anything to worry about, not even the sorting hat would be so dimwitted," Pansy remarked, a grateful smile on Daphne's part.
A smile of encouragement from Hermione.
There was nothing to worry about, there shouldn't be, blood never lies. A mantra that her parents had taken to saying often to the two Greengrass sisters.
-/-
One by one the first years were sorted. Being called up one by one. Some taking longer than others, however there hadn't been an instantaneous sorting like there had been for Draco yet. At least not since their group of slytherin students had attended Hogwarts.
"Greengrass, Astoria!"
With gaping breath, Daphne watched as her little sister walked up the small steps and sat on the stool. A few moments passed, moments that seemed like they had been minutes rather than seconds. What if her little sister wasn't sorted into slytherin, no she mustn't think that way. Everything would be alright.
"SLYTHERIN," the loud voice of the hat shouted both startling and earning a sigh of relief from Daphne, looking over at Hermione and Pansy she saw that they were both relieved for her as well. Looking back over at her little sister, she saw that Professor McGonagall had already taken the sorting hat of her head and Astoria was now walking over to their table, in her general direction, a smile on her face.
-/-
"Dementors at Hogwarts, my father will be hearing about this I can assure you of that," Draco spoke as he and Blaise Zabini conversed, the feast had finished a few minutes prior and the students had been dismissed to turn in for the night, they had classes to attend the following day.
As they walked in the general direction of the dungeons, albeit their common room was located behind a stone wall in the cellar of Hogwarts. As they approached their common room, they were somewhat surprised to see Professor Snape as he usually tended to be in his teacher's quarters by this time of the night.
"Miss Lestrange, I moment of your time," the tall slim form of the Potions Professor spoke as he beckoned for the young girl to follow.
"Yes Professor," Hermione responded, a small wave to her friends, she would catch up with them after speaking with whatever it was Professor Snape wanted.
As she followed the Slytherin Head of House down the cellar, she couldn't help but wonder what it was exactly that Professor Snape would want from her, she wasn't a bad student; she was actually at the top of her year. And Professor Snape always preferred the slytherins, so she knew she couldn't possibly be in trouble. As they entered the Potions Professor's classroom, she noticed that Professor Snape had taken something out of his robe pocket.
"Miss Lestrange might I inquire if you would know what this is?" The Potions Professor asked a solemn look on his face, as he let the object in his hand fall, a golden chain connected to it preventing it from hitting the ground. The object itself looked like a small hourglass with cylinder like circles framing it.
"A Time Turner sir," was Hermione's meek, simple response, she had only read about Time Turners. But had never actually seen one. Her father had once promised to take her to the Ministry to see one when she was older.
"Correct Miss Lestrange, and do you know what it's used for?" The Potions Professor asked once more.
"It's a device used to travel back in time, the number of times the user turns the hour glass represents the number of hours they go backwards, however dangerous if the user is seen by their past self as it can cause madness or death in worst cases" Hermione's simple response.
"Very good Miss Lestrange and do you know why I'm showing you this Time Turner?" once more a question from the Potions Professor.
"No sir," a simple response.
"It has come to my attention that you wish to take more than the required number of courses for this year," The Potions Professor began.
"Yes sir, but how-"
"I was informed by your parent's Miss Lestrange, now because you wish to endeavor in such a heavy workload, it would be unfortunate if you were not able to attend some of your courses, as I have seen that some take place during the same hour," The Potions Professor continued.
"As such, I have taken the liberty at the behest of your mother and father to acquire this Time Turner for yourself, it has been paid for by your father and is being given to you in the hopes that you will be able to manage all of your courses, however I must advice that you not abuse it, and refrain from mentioning that you have it within your possession to your classmates," the Potions professor finished, dropping the Time Turner in the awaiting hands of the young girl.
"Yes Professor and thank you," Hermione responded looking, with eyes big and full of wonder at the Time Turner now in her hands.
"You may go back to your dorm now Miss Lestrange," The Professor Snape instructed as the young girl gave a nod, bid him goodnight, and left his classroom.
-/-
Location: Slytherin Common Room – Dorms – Girl's Dormitories
"So what did Professor Snape want?" Pansy asked from her seated position on her bed, as Hermione walked into the third year slytherin girl's dormitory. Since Hermione had left with Professor Snape, Daphne and she had taken to exchanging what they had done over the break. Daphne's younger sister had come into their dormitory a few minutes after they had settled themselves in. The younger girl had wanted to bid her older sister goodnight and had promptly left after having done so.
"He just wanted to speak to me about my schedule," Hermione responded walking over to the bed that she assumed was hers. Her school trunk had been placed at the bottom of the bed. Making her way over to her trunk, she drew her wand out, muttered a simple spell and unlocked the clasp keeping the trunk closed. It was after all time to get ready for bed.
"What was wrong with it?" Daphne inquired, she too was on her bed choosing instead to lay down on it. The other girls in the dorm had since gone to bed. Choosing to go to sleep early rather than stay up late and chat, they had a long day of classes that awaited them the following day.
"Nothing, just wanted to make sure that it was correct," Hermione responded as she walked over to the changing panel, three long boards connected together and held in place, standing erect to allow students to change within a certain privacy.
"Alright, well now that that's cleared, can we get back to what we were discussing," Pansy's voice cut through the air.
"Oh? What were you two discussing before I arrived?" Hermione asked, now changed into a nightgown charmed by her mum to keep her warm.
"We were discussing what we did over the break, Pansy was saying that her parent's took her to Romania to look at the dragons," Daphne responded, she and Pansy had long since changed into their sleeping attires.
"Really? Romania, that must have been fun and dragons to?" Hermione responded with rapt interest, Dragons like most magical creatures had always been something that she had been privy to.
"Yes, I have an uncle who works with them there, he's the head of treatment for them," Pansy eagerly responded. It had been a rather fun and enjoyable trip.
"Wow that must have been an amazing trip," Hermione commented once more, looking over at Daphne told her that the girl had, had a similar reaction.
"So Daph, what did you do over the break?" Hermione asked, as she got into her bed and got underneath the covers.
"Nothing that special, we just visited some family in Denmark," Daphne simply responded, the most fun that she had had during the break was going Diagon Alley to shop for her younger sister's school supplies.
"Oh well I'm sure that must have been fun," Hermione replied, trying to lighten her friends spirits.
"I guess, but enough about my droll break, what did you do during yours?" the girl inquired, she and Pansy had both heard Draco speak about the French family they had, had dinner with over the break.
"Oh yes do tell Hermione," Pansy agreed, she had been hoping Hermione would fill them in on the details when she got back from speaking with Professor Snape.
At hearing this, it made the young girl blush a little. How to go about telling her friends that meeting a veela would captivate an individual so much. Like a magnetic pull that you could not help but fall in, but could not find the explanation for. And about the favor that Mr. Delacour had asked of her father. Oh how to word it all, it was simply a conundrum.
"Well-
-/-
Ok guys that's it for now, I hope that you guys liked that chapter, and I thank you all for continuing to support my story I am most grateful. Now if you guys feel so inclined to do so please leave me a review, they not only make me feel good about my writing but they encourage me to write more for you guys. With that being said I hope that you all enjoyed reading this chapter as I have enjoyed typing it. Until the next chapter, thank you guys for the support
