So i am really happy about how well liked this fic seems to be so thank you all for being wonderfully awesome.
I own nothing but my little OC's
It had been three days since try outs and Hermione was still a little surprised by the comments, mostly pats on the back or praise, that she had received. Turns out that it got around a bit that she was a half decent dueller and way above her skill level. She ignored it for the most part, it certainly made her feel good but she didn't want people to like her only because she is good at something. They doubted her without knowing her and it was unfair, she wouldn't let that slide.
She was no closer to figuring out anything much in regard to Bellatrix Black, nothing outside of the usual that is. Bellatrix was a student at Hogwarts and a damn good dueller back then, so good she was recruited after Hogwarts onto a professional team which she lead to victory at World's twice. When she retired she had taken up the position as Duel Coach for Hogwarts, the eldest Black sister had spent the better part of a decade coaching there and lead the school team to international victory 75% of the time. Bellatrix was involved in an unsanctioned duel and was fatally injured trying to break it up.
It was a depressing thought, that the woman who was such a fabulous dueller, the original owner of the wand Hermione now used, could have been struck down during a duel. The little brunette had finally found her curiosity sated, at least for the time being and got back to her studies. At the beginning of the year the little witch had vowed that she would do the work and learn as much as she could, be the best she could, not for anyone but for herself.
She was between classes when she bumped into a few Slytherin 3rd years that were hassling some Ravenclaw 1st years. Hermione cleared her throat to get their attention but when they saw her they blanched and quickly scurried away, the 1st years following suit. She sighed to herself and continued on her way, she was going to Transfiguration which she was rather excited about, she was loving the class more and more.
Naturally she was there early so she supposed it wasn't that odd to hear almost angry voices coming from the transfiguration classroom. She stood and defined one as Minerva McGonagall, it took a little longer to realise the second one was Albus Dumbledor. She new she shouldn't stop and eavesdrop so she was turning to leave when the next angry comment caught her attention.
"You have to tell her Minerva! She deserves to know all there is. Her whole life has been a lie and its like you said the people she is with abuse her!" Albus practically hissed.
"Why?! What would be the point? Just to give her more questions? No Albus, I'll be keeping it to myself and I will thank you to do the same." Minerva ground out and Albus sighed heavily.
"She would have wanted her daughter to know!" Albus' tone had turned cold.
"I do not give a damn! She isn't here any more! Hermione doesn't need to know!" Minerva must have slammed her hand down on her desk and the sound had the little brunette jump.
The words registered slowly and the brunette frowned, they were talking about her? They knew who her mother was and it apparently wasn't Monica Granger. Questions, questions, so many questions. Frowning the little girl held her breath wondering what else she could learn from listening to this conversation.
"Stone-Heart indeed." Albus commented almost sadly before beginning to leave.
Hermione didn't give Professor McGonagall a chance to respond as she put on a false smile and practically bounced around the corner and into the classroom. Albus immediately donned a far less irate expression and even smiled at the young girl who smiled back though it didn't quite reach her eyes. She stopped in front of him when she saw that he was about to speak and smiled a little more at the headmaster.
"Miss Granger, good to see you are well. I heard about your duelling abilities and I must say i'm impressed. The last person to show that kind of potential was Bellatrix Black." Albus smiled happily at the little girl who ducked her head at the praise, she was not at all used to it.
"Thank you, I guess i'm just a natural... though it might just be the wand too." Hermione tried to be polite all the while brushing off the comment.
"Not all, I am sure you would do fine if the wand was made of cardboard and a kneazel whisker." Albus encouraged in a friendly tone.
"You're too kind." Hermione blushed faintly her smile more genuine now.
"Just honest honest, sweet girl. Enjoy your day." He said kindly before ambling out of the room and leaving the professor and her student alone.
Hermione moved over to her usual seat and sat down after smiling at the older woman. Minerva looked particularly stressed out but Hermione hoped the woman would get over it. The smile the professor gave her was tight lipped and she frowned slightly when the woman looked back down at what ever was on the table in front of her. Hermione tried not to let it get to her but given what she just heard she couldn't help but begin to doubt the friendship she thought she had with the older woman.
"Hermione why do you come to classes so early?" The older woman finally speaks up.
"Why not? I don't have anything else to do and I enjoy learning." Hermione shrugged like it was obvious.
"Why don't you try and make some friends?" Minerva's tone is a little harder than Hermione is sure she intended it to be.
"Why would I? Everyone laughed at me when I first got here and now they know I actually have some talent they either suck up or they are scared of me. Who am I supposed to be friends with?" Hermione mumbled looking at the desk in front of her.
"You could be friends with anyone Hermione if you would just try." Minerva's tone is a lot harder now and Hermione looks up with a scowl matching the one on the older woman's
"I don't want to try. People just use and abuse each other, why would I want any part of that." Hermione half yells at the older woman which only seems to infuriate the Professor.
"Because if you don't, you will end up old and alone!" Minerva screeched and Hermione stood.
"What you mean like you? You seem to be doing a good job of pushing everyone away. I heard you arguing with the Headmaster, I know you're keeping things from me. I thought we were friends but you're just a prime example of why I am better off alone!" Hermione yelled at the woman now her eyes filled with tears as she shoved her things in her bag and turned to leave. She found she couldn't move.
"Hermione stop, you cant speak to me like that. You don't understand." Minerva's tone was hard but it held an edge of pleading.
"Of course I don't understand! I show up here and that damn hat tells me my parents aren't who I think they are, then today I find out that you know why my mother is but you refuse to tell me. I don't understand a bloody. Let me go!" Hermione struggled against the enchanted ropes holding her.
"Why do you need to know? Why cant you just live the life you're living. Your parents don't hit you, how bad can I really be?" Minerva was borderline hysterical, she was driving the wedge so deep she thought they earth might have started shaking.
"How bad? Let me bloody go Minerva!" Hermione screamed and just as she did the first trickle of students started filing into the room completely shocked looks on their faces.
Minerva had no choice at this point and the damage was done. With a sadness so deep seeded that sun would never touch it released the brunette and only hoped that one day she would be able to make it up to the little girl. The moment Hermione was back in control of herself she fled the room, she was loathe to miss a class but she couldn't sit there and pretend that she wasn't hurt. Minerva knew the one thing she had wanted to know since the hat had rest on her head and yet the professor refused to tell her.
Minerva turned from the stunned students and stepped back behind her desk gathering her wits about her and putting on her mask. She wasn't going to let a little girl get to her, even if that little girl meant more to her than anyone else. Stone-heart McGonagall was who everyone else needed to see, she couldn't let anyone else in, she refused to be broken again. The only problem with being labelled Stone-Heart was that it implied she had a heart at all, that her heart wasn't buried with the one person who hag given her life meaning.
It wasn't until the Monday of the following week that things started to look a little brighter for Hermione, she had avidly avoided the old woman as best she could not raising her hand in class or answering questions, she no longer lingered or smiled at the woman. She didn't fail to notice the hurt on the older woman's face but she couldn't bring herself to care, she was hurting too.
Hermione was presently on her way into the Great Hall for breakfast when she noticed the large crowed around the door. Frowning she pushed her way through intent on making her way into the hall to get something to eat when a hand on her shoulder stopped her, looking up she smiled slightly when she saw Penelope Clearwater beaming down at her.
"You're not going to look? Coach posted the team for the Duel." Penelope guided the young girl over to the board and Hermione looked up and read.
Greyson Colt – 1v1
Francis Cold – 3v3
Jessalyn Trunchbold – 3v3
Kelly Wright – 3v3
Greyson Colt – 5v5
Percy Weasley – 5v5
Luca Martin – 5v5
Marsha Gruger – 5v5
Hermione Granger - 5v5
Ren Devereux – Sub
Leiah Moss – Sub
"I made the team?" Hermione squeaked out completely shocked.
"But I passed out." Hermione added before Penelope could say anything, she didn't need to though as someone else beat the Ravenclaw to the punch.
"Of course you passed out, kid. You had duelled and beaten three students well above your year level and then you had to face Percy Weasley, you were already warn out and you took that spell to the chest and still managed to disarm Weasley! I'd have been outraged if you didn't make the team." A tall brunette with very short hair, her fringe was long enough to cover her eyes which were blue, spoke up with an arm slung around Hermione's shoulders.
Hermione recognised the brunette as a 6th year Slytherin and she was pretty sure her name was Ren Devereux. She slowly slipped out of her stupor and a bright smile spread across the little girls face and she gave a little squeal of excitement and happily accepted the hug Ren pulled her into. Penelope was laughing softly at the little girls excitement right up until a petulant red head pushed through the slowly dissipating crowd.
"How can you even bare to touch a Slytherin?" Ronald asked his look between amusement and disgust. He probably thought his comment was funny.
"She's not a Slytherin Ronald, she's my team mate." Hermione defended quickly, Ren's arm was still slung around her shoulders and Penelope was just slightly behind the smaller brunette.
"Team mate? What are you on about?" Harry asked frowning from beside the red-head.
"She made the Duel team." Penelope informed the boys with a roll of her eyes.
"What? As a sub?" Ron laughed and nudged the green eyed boy with his elbow.
"Nope, the kid's a 5th." Ren stated proudly and Hermione couldn't help but grin.
"Oh Ronald you aren't being a prat again are you?" Fred Weasley seemed to pop up out of no where his brother beside him.
Hermione hadn't had much to do with the twins, or really and of the other students, but she had definitely appreciate the twins knack for mischief. She had found out that they were developing a line of candy to induce nose bleeds or vomiting, she would be impressed to see the end result. As it was she found the twin red-heads more than enjoyable to be around even if she didn't speak to them.
"You know what mother said after we told her about the prodigy's water sports first morning." George spoke up seriously nodding beside his brother.
"Right, she said that little Granger would be a force to be reckoned with if she was skilled enough to pull that off." Fred added grinning at their younger brother.
"And that you should be nice or leave her alone because we all know mother would be routing for the duellist before the Quidditch player. Which are you Ronald?" George started in again and Ron's ears were so red they couldn't be seen against his hair.
"Shuddup." Ron mumbles before turning and stalking into the hall with an embarrassed Harry beside him.
The twins watched them go before chuckling, they were joined by Ren and Penelope but Hermione was too busy scowling to bother with being amused. Still people treated her like she wasn't capable of what she was, she sighed heavily. At the sound of the air leaving the young brunette though Ren turned and tilted little girls head up so she had to look into blue eyes.
"Don't let them get to you Kid, we know what you are capable of and you can colour us impressed. We're team, which makes us practically family. No one else matters yeah?" Ren smiled gently at the little brunette who slowly smiled back.
"Thank you Ren, that means a lot." Hermione says a little shyly her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Damn kid, you're adorable. If you were a few years older I'd nearly have to put the moves on you." Ren sounded a little amused and her tone definitely lightened the moment but Hermione frowned.
"I'm not sure I understand." Hermione spoke shyly, she hated not understanding.
"Ren is a lesbian. She is saying if you were older she would try to date you." Fred informed casually.
"Probably snog you." George added without a pause.
"Probably sh-" Fred was cut off by a sharp elbow to the ribs and he grunted in pain.
"The Kids 12 man, don't even think about finishing that." Ren chastised giving the twins a stern look.
Fred and George both just laughed and with hands held up in surrender they walked into the Great Hall. Hermione was no longer confused and she had a pretty good idea what the twins had been getting at which made her blush a little but all in all she wasn't even a bit bothered by being so close to Ren. Of course the little book worm had read quite a bit about homosexuality over the years and she knew of the stigma surrounding it but she personally didn't understand it. Hermione had always been under the impression that love was always a good thing and that it shouldn't matter who loved who. Besides she was too young to even care about that kind of stuff and as far more interested in learning than loving.
"Come on Kid, we will have a practice session this afternoon so we should get going and get all fed and stuff. See you later Pen." Ren spoke excitedly leading the little brunette into the Great Hall and practically escorting her to the Gryffindor table, Hermione had barely had time to mumble a farewell to Penelope.
"Thank you Ren. I'll see you later." Hermione's tone was a little more questioning than she meant it to be.
"Sure thing Kid. You have Care of Magical creatures last today right? Just head straight to the Quidditch pitch from there, that's where we are all meeting." The taller, older brunette grinned at the little girl and walked off to the Slytherin table.
Hermione later that day found out how Ren knew her class schedule or at least what her class was. Turns out Ren had a sister in 1st year, a Slytherin obviously, who was in most of Hermione's classes. When class was finished, it was held down by the lake, she made her way up to the pitch. She was the first one there only to soon be joined by Severus Snape who gave a tight smile and a nod in acknowledgement
The practice session was straight forward, they teamed up one of one and Professor Snape had them work on their speed and accuracy in casting. Hermione was right there with accuracy but she needed to work on her speed so Coach had them line up and shield themselves while Hermione cast at them. She gradually got faster but she knew she could do better if they practised more, unfortunately for that plan Coach had them break for dinner. They would be training three days a week on Monday's, Wednesday's and Friday's. Hermione personally would have rather trained more frequently but she was clearly out voted on that notion.
During dinner that night she thought about it and decided she would find somewhere where she could practice even if it was alone. She wanted to be the best she could be and she knew she could only do that through practice. She started sneaking out of the dorms late and managed to make it up to the Dark Tower through the Transfiguration Courtyard. Its was a slightly intimidating place but it was high enough that no one would be able to see her casting spells which made it far less likely that she would get caught.
For the next two weeks she trained in private during the evening and happily practice duelled anyone who was up for it during training. She had improved considerably and though she wasn't planning to let anyone know she had been working on her ability to cast the spells she already knew non-verbally. By the time she turned 12 she was determined to be able to cast Avis, Stupify and Incarcerous non-verbally. She was already two thirds of the way there with five days to go. She wanted to have a secret weapon when it came to their first competition in six weeks against Durmstrang. She was adamant that they would win.
