Disclaimer ~ I do not own any of the Characters, Books, Films, TV Programs or Comics sadly.
Chapter Three
Expelled
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Drawing Room of Grimmauld Place
"So when are we leaving to get Hermione," Harry asked while playing Wizards chess with Ron and losing badly.
"Not we. Us, me, Tonks and Moody because you have to relax your disciplinary hearing at the Ministry is in two days, and you don't need anything worrying you" Remus told Harry.
"Yeah, I mean think about what Hermione will do when she finds out about your disciplinary hearing?" Ron said with a knowing look causing Harry to shuddered in thought.
"Let's hope she not or else I'm taking you down with me" Harry warned Ron. Whose eyes grew wide with fright.
"Ha, scared of a 15-year-old girl, what could she do?" Tonks wondered since she had never met Hermione.
"Trust us we have known Hermione for 4 years you don't want to be at the receiving end of her temper," Ron told her.
"So when are you going?" Ginny asked excitedly "I mean it is fun hanging around with you guys its just…" she said trailing off not wanting to offend them.
"Well, we'll need to owl her first to double check she is in fact home, okay," Remus said.
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Hermione's House
"Christmas?" the Doctor asked confused.
"Yeah Christmas, you never stay always flying off. It's not good to be alone" Hermione told him. "Come on Doctor enjoy it" Hermione finished with a smile on her face.
"Well…" he trailed off leaning on the TARDIS outside.
"Oh, come on when is the last time you had a proper Christmas dinner with turkey and all the trimmings?" Hermione said trying to persuade him. But the Doctor said nothing just raised an eyebrow in response.
Hermione huffed in reply "I'm not cooking it if that's any consolation" she said hands on hips.
"Look I'm sorry but..." The Doctor said but was interrupted
"Uh, why are you so persistent and stubborn, just have fun" she said getting worked up then a slow smile crept up on her face she walked towards the Doctor "Did I mention that I was going to see some friends to over Christmas" she said. "That they may or may not be mutants, vampires, Wiccans and the one and only Slayer" she finished knowing look that he wouldn't refuse due to his own curiosity.
"Uh fine then," the Doctor said in a mock aspirated voice but with a smile on his face.
"Yes, yes thank you, you won't regret it" she replied with her face beaming and hugged him.
"Yeah, yeah"
"And just so you know I'll be calling you a lot, and I mean a lot so you can't worm your way out of this one okay " Hermione warned.
"Of course, now go your friends may be here any minute," the Doctor said with a wave.
"Fine just don't get into too much trouble or get yourself killed," Hermione said.
"Me, trouble, never" he replied with a wink and step into the TARDIS. Hermione stood and watched as it dematerialised from her back garden with the sound of wheezing engines a fading light and a gust of wind.
She went and opened the back door and places her bag on the side in the kitchen before then making her way through the hall missing a dozen letters stacked up on the side counter and upstairs to her bedroom. Hermione's bedroom is lilac in colour with a cream carpet. In front of the window which is opposite the door is a desk with one long drawer at the top and 3 smaller drawers ones running down on the right-hand side. The desk had a triple dressing table mirror along with a few sheets of parchment, 2 books and an inkwell and a quill. Next to it on the right, the wall was a filled with pictures of family and friends with a low bookcase beneath it running along the wall to meet the bed on the adjacent wall, and to the left of the desk was a medium size bookcase overflowing with books crammed in. On the wall to the left of the door was a larger bookcase stuffed with books both magical and muggle with a chair with a pillow in between the large and bookcases. On the opposite wall was Hermione's small -double bed with a bedside table on one side and the low bookcase on the other and a wooden box front of it. And the wall with the door was a floor length mirror and a modest wardrobe.
And there curled up in the middle of her bed was Crookshanks fast asleep. Slowly walking up to crooks and sitting on the edge of the bed she gave him a small kiss and whispered "Missed you Crooks" before stepping away to see a snowy white owl pecking at the window. "Hi Hedwig" she greeted the owl as she opened the window to allow the owl to perch on her desk chair with a letter tied to her leg. "Here I've got some treats," she said as she reached into her lower desk drawer and pulled out some owl treats "Here you go" and placed them in front of Hedwig and took the letter.
Hermione,
We just wanted to make sure that you were home and to see if you are able to be picked up around 6:30.We're not at the Burrow this year, but I can't tell you much about it until you get here. I asked Harry to see if I could use Hedwig, Pig can't seem to fly in a straight line anymore; oh Ginny wants to write something. Ron
Hey Hermione, I can't wait until you get here it has been so boring without you. This place is so gloomy we're hardly allowed in any of the rooms and the ones we are allowed in all we are doing is cleaning doxies and boggarts uh. If I have to hear, Ron complain one more time! Please hurry. Ginny
Hermione, I'm glad that you're okay I was worried when no one had heard from you especially after what happen. Write back soon. Harry
Hermione sighed and quickly wrote a reply to all three before handing to it Hedwig waiting on the desk chair "Here go, Hedwig, fly safely" she said as the owl flew off. Hermione glanced at the clock to see It was half one and collected the books, parchment and inkwell and quill off her desk and placed them into her trunk as well as spares from one of the side desk drawers and pulled out sheets of parchment as well as quills and ink pots. Then walked over to the end of the bed and pulled out all the necessary books and equipment for the year from the wooden box, before hurrying over to her wardrobe to pull out her school trunk, robes, and casual clothes before putting it all in her trunk and placing her wand on the bed. Seeing it was only 4:15 she decided to go and get changed and have a nice hot relaxing shower and wash her hair.
Stepping out of the shower she wrapped a towel around her and cleaned away the condensation that had formed on the mirror and looked at herself. During her time away with the Doctor she had changed in both appearance and personality. Her hair was cut shorter about two inches below her shoulders and had become tamed falling into ringlets instead of a mass bunch of curls. She had grown quite a bit too from 5'4 to 5'6, her body was no longer that of a 16-year-old girl but had grown into that of a woman with curves of 23.
Hermione walked into her bedroom and over to her the wooden box at the end of her bed and took out a small bottle of pills, uncapping the lid and taking two she quickly placed the bottle into her trunk and swallowed the two pills. Then she put on her dressing gown and sat down at her desk opening the top drawer and took out her make-up, hair dryer, and straighteners. Now looking back at her through much older eyes was her 16-year-old self, she had that, she applied her make-up before blow drying and straightening her hair reducing the number of mass curls her hair has transformed into making it almost look tame. Getting dressed she decided to wear light wash high waisted skinny jeans with a dark red asymmetrical crop camisole and a pair of matching dark red ballet flats.
With roughly 45 minutes to spare grabbed a leather jacket from her wardrobe and walked over to Crookshanks to wake him up, which he did with a very human yawn before stretching out on the bed and flicking his tail in Hermione's face before jumping off the bed and walking downstairs.
"Love you too Crookshanks!" Hermione shouted after him before picking up her wand and following with her trunk and Crookshanks carrier and placed them in the hall. Before walking towards the kitchen to get her bag and saw a dozen letters stacked up on the side and went to collect them. Looking through she saw that the majority were from Harry and Ron and some from Ginny. Before she could open them, an owl came swooping in through her open bedroom window and down the stairs waiting for Hermione to take the letter before flying away. As she turned it over there was the seal for the Ministry of Magic, quickly she ripped open the letter which stated.
Dear Miss Granger,
We have received intelligence that you performed a great number of spells including:
Blasting Curse
Colloportus
Disarming Charm
Episkey
Homenum Revelio
Incarcerous
Levitation Charm
Memory Charm
Patronus Charm
Protego
Rennervate
Stupefying Charm Stunner
Undetectable Extension Charm
Vanishing Spell
At different times during the summer in a Muggle-inhabited area and in the presence of a Muggle.
The severity of this breach of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery has resulted in your expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ministry representatives will be calling at your place of residence shortly to destroy your wand.
Hoping you are well,
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk
Improper Use of Magic Office
Ministry of Magic
Speechless.
She was utterly shocked speechless. Numb was the only way that could describe how Hermione was feeling she couldn't believe it expelled. But she didn't understand she was seventeen well actually older but... what was she going to do? Sadly Hermione didn't have much time to dwell as she heard someone shuffling outside the door. Snapping out of her trance of self-pity and stuffed the letter into her jeans pocket before turning around to see a shadow hovering outside the door. Giving the door a suspicious look when scratching could be heard over the lock. Slowly she started to creep towards the right side hand of the door picking up her wand, ready to attack the intruder. The front door started to slowly creak open with the shadow appearing in the doorway, the intruder stepped slowly into the house looking right closing the door behind them. Then looked left only to come face to face with a stick and let out startled scream only to drop the small rock they had been holding and staring at Hermione.
"Who...? Who are…? What are…? Hermione…?" the girl asked stood frozen to the spot.
Hermione looked at the girl puzzled "Do I know you?" she asked pointing her wand at the girl.
"It's me, Kelly, we live across the road from each other," she said pointing to the door "We used to hang out."
"Kelly? Oh My God! Kelly!" she quickly lowering her wand and gave the girl a smile "I am so sorry, I thought you were some sort of burglar" Hermione said with a relieved sigh.
"Yeah me too, that's why I came over. I thought you were with your family in France?" Kelly asked
"Well actually I was staying with some friends, and I came back to get the rest of my stuff," Hermione said pointing to her trunk.
"Oh well, I'm glad you're not a burglar I almost called the police not to mention I only had that small rock to defend myself with. And what's with that stick? We're you planning on poking me to death?" Kelly said gesturing to Hermione wand.
"… It was the first thing I could find," Hermione said lying to Kelly thankful that she didn't kill her placing her wand on her trunk.
"Ha, so how have you been? I haven't seen you since last summer" Kelly asked Hermione changing topic.
"Oh you know, I've been quite well." Hermione said "There was a competition at our boarding school with another two schools," she said walking into the kitchen "We won" she finished with a sad smile remembering how they won. "Do you want a drink" she offered looking in the cupboards for a glass
"No thanks, I only came round because I thought someone was trying to break-in, not to mention, trying to feed your devil cat," she said with a laugh. "Where did you get him from anyway?"
"Just a pet shop in London, and he's not the devil, are you Crooks?" she said to her cat as he came strolling in. Who greeted her will a glare.
"Yeah he's an angel, so are you still as smart as ever and top of the class?" Kelly asked with a knowing grin.
"What? There is nothing wrong with being smart" Hermione said in her defence.
"I never said there was. But I'm glad that you took my advice" Kelly said pointing to her clothes "You look like an actual teenager instead of a 70-year-old granny" she with a smile.
"Oi! I'll have you know that my granny is incredibly stylish" Hermione replied in mock anger.
"Oh, I'm sure" Kelly replied with an eye roll.
"Well thanks, but the credit should go to the people who actually managed to get me to stay in a clothes shop without me going crazy" she replied.
"In that case, I must tip my hat to whoever managed such a feat" Kelly said tipping an imaginary hat.
"So what have you been doing over the holidays?" Hermione asked Kelly.
"You know a little of this, and a little of that" Kelly said not going into much detail.
"Well that sounds really really interesting," Hermione said sarcastically. "But seriously though what have you been doing?" Hermione asked her.
"Nothing," said not looking her in the eye.
"Yeah right," Hermione said not believing a word.
"I am shocked you don't believe me, I mean would I ever do anything so preposterous," Kelly said as though the idea of that was impossible.
"Yes"
"Oh, honestly Hermione…but"
"I knew it!"
"If you happen to know or be any good with computers it would be greatly appreciated to know for future reference" Kelly flicking invisible lint off her jacket.
"Why?" Hermione asked suspicious of her already.
"Ah you know, just in case," she said dropping the subject "So what are you and your friends doing this summer?" Kelly asked.
Hermione could tell that she was uncomfortable and wanted to change the subject so let her, she would find out anyway "Not sure really probably just get in some extra reading and catching up" Hermione answered.
Kelly just nodded her head with a smile "Books, books and more books" Hermione rolled her eyes in response. "So will I be able to keep in contact with you his year?" Kelly asked, "I mean I know I could write letters but really?"
"Yes, they finally got proper network coverage, so you should be able to call and text," Hermione said. "Wait you have my phone number?"
"Yeah your parents gave it to me last year in case of an emergency." informed Kelly "What's that?" Kelly asked Hermione pointing to the kitchen window. Hermione turned around, and her eyes widened in surprise to see an owl stood outside on the ledge pecking at the window.
"Um… it's my friends' pet owl I… brought it back with me because it was driving their parents crazy with feathers everywhere" Hermione said with a fake smile plastered on her face.
"Oh," Kelly replied quite puzzled. "Is that a letter?" she asked incredulously.
"Training… quicker than the post" Hermione supplied quickly.
"Hum," Kelly said, "So when are you leaving?" Kelly asked.
"Well I'm being picked up 30 minutes," Hermione told Kelly glancing at the clock.
"Well then I better get going," she said walking out of the kitchen "And make sure you have your phone on I would like to actually talk to you while you away," Kelly told Hermione.
"Don't worry I will" Hermione said as they made their way to the door and hugged goodbye as Kelly left. Hermione closed the door and raced to the kitchen to open the window the owl came swooping in dropped the letter on the counter and flew out the window. Hermione went towards the counter and picked up the letter it was another one from the Ministry of Magic reading.
Dear Miss Granger
Further to your
Letter of approximately fourteen minutes ago, the Ministry of Magic hasrevised its decision to destroy your wand. You shall retain your wand until your disciplinary hearing on August 20th. The Ministry as agreed that the question of your expulsion will also be decided at that time, you should, therefore, consider yourself suspended from school pending further enquiries.
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk
Improper Use of Magic Office
Ministry of Magic.
Relief flooded Hermione as she collapsed against the counter. There is no way in telling how her parents or friends would have reacted to the news of her Hermione Granger being expelled. Though she will be spending the summer with Weasley's and Harry so it's going be difficult to sneak out get the hearing. Folding the letter she placed it in her bag along with the other letter from the Ministry leaving it on the counter before closing both the upstairs and downstairs window and making sure the back door was locked. Now all she had to do was get Crookshanks into his carrier, this should be fun.
20 minutes later and one very tired Hermione had managed to wrestle Crookshanks into in his carrier " I know, but it's only for half an hour or so" Hermione said to a very disgruntled cat before placing the carrier in the hall to get her bag and unopened letters from the kitchen. Flicking through the letters, she decided to open the few which were from Ginny thinking they would be more informative than the ones from both Harry and Ron, and she wasn't wrong
'KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK' Hermione heard at the door and looked towards the clock. Grabbing her bag from the counter, she placed the letters into her bag before walking out into the hall and placing it on the trunk and picking up her wand before hurrying towards the door opening it but leaving the chain on. Opening the door to see her ex-professors Remus Lupin and Alastor Moody with a woman she didn't recognise. Hermione closed the door to take off the chain and picked up her wand off the trunk and opened the door pointing her wand at Remus.
"Hermione!" Remus said alarmed.
"When I handed you my essay set by Professor Snape what did I say?" Hermione asked him
"He's wrong about what he said " he replied
Hermione nodded her head and stepped aside allowing them to enter. Moody limped in first with his magical eye whizzing around the place taking everything in with an uneasy look on his face looked as though he wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. Then the woman followed Moody into the house accidentally tripping on her robes causing her to fall forward bumping into Mad-eye and muttered a quick sorry. Remus then came in looking warily at Hermione.
"Sorry about that Professor you can never be too careful," Hermione said closing the door turning to them.
"It's fine Hermione and remember it's just Remus I'm no longer your professor," Remus said giving her a small smile.
"Good awareness Granger always be careful," Mood said with slight appreciation.
"Thanks, Professor."
"Professor, professor" Moody muttered under his breath.
"Hermione this is Nymphadora Tonks," Remus said gesturing to the woman beside him
"Don't call me Nymphadora, Remus. It's Tonks" Tonks said annoyed at Remus her hair turning a deep shade of red.
"Tonks?" Hermione asked.
"You would want to be known by your last name too if your name was Nymphadora," Tonks said with Hermione nodding in agreement
"Are you a metamorphmagus? It's just the fact that your hair changed colour" Hermione asked Tonks with Remus smiling at her curiosity.
"Yeah I am" Tonks replied.
"Okay, ready to go Hermione?" Remus asked ignoring Alastor.
"Yeah," said Hermione putting on her bag and picking up her trunk and Crookshanks' carrier
"Good the sooner we leave the better," said Mad-eye.
"Where are we going?" Hermione asked
"You'll find out when we arrive," said Remus as Tonks took Hermione's trunk from her. Moody left first with Tonks and Hermione following with Remus bringing up the rear, locking the door they certainly were an interesting site walking down the street. Taking a left down an empty ginnel Alastor cast a disillusionment charm over himself and Hermione "That will take care of any muggles that may be watching" Mad-eye gruffed while Tonks and Remus cast it over themselves as well as Crookshanks and Hermione's trunk. With that, Tonks disappeared with a faint 'POP'.
"Apparition," Hermione said
"Of course, ready?" Remus asked her holding out his arm.
"Yeah guess so." She replied
"Good, now it's going to feel like you're being squeezed through a tube of toothpaste so don't worry if you feel sick after," Remus said before they apparated with Moody not far behind.
