Disclaimer: Its all Rowling, baby.
Note from author:Finally! Tom makes an appearance Thanks for all the detailed reviews guys! Worry not! everything is planned out and all will be revealed... slowly.
Summary: 'For some reason the twinkle in this man's eyes was the most comforting thing she had seen in some time. It was like a warm blanket of relief had spread through her heart when it had felt chilled for so long. How long? She asked herself.'
This Day in Age
Chap 4: A Sight For Sore Eyes
The stew was warm and it coated her stomache with comforting blandness. The clothes (A blue, knee-length pleated skirt and soft white woolen jumper.) were loose on her, but they were clean. She was clean too. The proprietor of the pub had taken her home with him. His wife had healed her cuts and given her some clothes and a bath. Her hair was still bushy, but no longer dirt-caked and matted. Now she was eating beef stew with a slice of crusty bread.
In the other room, Wilfred and his wife were speaking to each other in low whispers. Discussing what to do with her.
"Where do you think she came from?" Millie, his wife, queried.
"Isn't it obvious? This close to Hogwarts? Some overzealous student must've cornered her with a nasty memory charm. Really, children can be so cruel-"
"But what about those wounds? The dirt? Those clothes?" Millie retorted.
Wilfred couldn't answer that one.
"You dont think-" She mouthed the word 'Grindenwald?'
"Of course not dear, don't be daft. Haven't you been reading the papers? He's off terrorizing the French." Wilfred didn't like the thought of Grindenwald on English shores, let alone in his own backyard.
"So, what do we do with her?" Millie asked. "Should we alert the ministry?"
"Don't be silly, my dear. There's no point wasting their time when it was obviously nothing more than a cruel joke. The Ministry has enough on their plate as it is. When she finishes her food I'll take her up to Hogwarts. She most definately came from there. In fact, I'll owl the Headmaster right now so there'll be someone to recieve us when we arrive."
With that Wilfred stood and walked over to the writing table on the other side of the parlor. It was made of heavy slabs of knotted pine. The handles on the drawers were large and weathered with heavy use. It had been in his family for generations. He remembered watching his father writing at the very same table as a boy. It was partly the reason why he enjoyed polishing the bar at the Three Broomsticks, it was also aged and worn.
He retrieved a fresh quill from one of the drawers as well as a new roll of parchment and unscrewed the lid to his inkpot.
He had decided to keep things short and to the point.
Headmaster Dippet,
I seem to have stumbled across one of your students, rather she stumbled upon me. She seems to have met the wrong end of a particularly nasty memory charm. Doesn't remember a thing.The poor thing looked as if she's been wandering around for days before finding her way to my pub. And she was wearing the strangest clothes! I plan on escorting her up to the castle shortly and request that someone be there to recieve us.
Reguards,
Wilfred Fowles, Proprietor of The Three Broomsticks.
Wilfred sealed the letter, then opened a small window by the fireplace on the far side of the parlor. He placed his thumb and forefinger under his tongue and sharply whistled out the window. A gray tawney owl landed on the sill.
"Take this to the Headmaster at Hogwarts, please." He plunked a few sickles into his pouch and handed the owl a biscuit. The tawney chirped pleasantly and headed off.
Within the hour it had returned with a reply.
Mister Fowles,
How fortunate that the young lady is safe and unharmed. Some with intentions not as noble could have indeed taken advantage of her state. Please accept my sincerest gratitude. Someone will most definately be there to greet you at the gates, where you will be immediately led to my office. I would like to get this matter settled post haste.
Headmaster Dippet,
Hogwarts Headmaster
It was already nightfall when she and Wilfred headed up the dirt road that led to Hogwarts. Wilfred had lit his wand, but it was so dark she nearly had to jog to keep up and avoid stumbling over the divets and the canyons left behind by the Thestrals. Behind her, she could see the lanterns lit all around Hogsmeade. She could hear the wind brushing through the trees and she could feel leaves dance around her ankles only to crunch beneath her feet. The air was cool and smelled like wet earth. Like autumn. And strangely, like home.
Wilfred was carrying a small satchel with her clothes in it. Millie suggested they burn them, but Wilfred protested. They may have held some clue as to who had done this to her. So he folded up her filthy clothes and packed them in a little satchel. And being ever the gentleman, he had also opted to carry it for her.
When they reached a clearing she could make out the stars in the night sky. There was no moon that nightwhich explained the total darkness. She could almost make out the black outline of the castle. Well, an outline of something because she wasn't yet aware it was a castle.
"Almost there, my dear." Wilfred said as they neared the castle gates. "We'll have this mess settled out in no time. Soon, you'll be laughing about this whole thing with your friends." He smiled. "You are most welcome to drop by every now and again, of course. I'm sure I could dust off a butterbeer or two just for you."
Now it was her turn to smile. Her chocolate brown eyes crinkled pleasantly.
"Thank you so much for all you and your wife have done. Who knows how long I'd have wandered around if-"
"Now, now, Its like the Headmaster said. 'Some with intentions not as noble.' and all that." He grabbed her shoulder firmly with one arm. "Fear not, my dear girl for you are to soon be on the road to recovery!" And then he chuckled at the joke he had unknowingly just made. "Well then!" He exclaimed. Nodding to the very road they were travelling. "I suppose we already are!"
At the gates they were met by a pale, platinum blond boy with a large badge inscribed with the letter 'P' on his robes. He looked at Wilfred as if he were nothing more than a cockroach that needed stepping on.
"I have been instructed to lead you," He paused, looking her up and down. "To the Headmaster 's office."
"Well." Wilfred began. "I suppose this is where I leave you then, my dear." Then he smiled. "Good luck!"
"The Headmaster also requests that you be present." The blond boy's voice dripped with venom.
"Oh? Well, best be off then." Wilfred ignored the obvious contempt in his voice.
The trip went without conversation. She closed her eyes and listened to their steps echoing loudly throughout the large, stone corridors. She knew this place, and when the boy spoke aloud a password to open a hidden door she was sure of it.
As they entered the large office. she noticed two people.The boy did not stay. One tall spindly man behind the large desk piled with papers, and a small toadlike man with great big, beady eyes to his right. (A/N I don't know what Dippet looked like and that's how I picture Slughorn.)
"Ah, you've arrived. I was just discussing your predicament with my collegues." The spindly man waved them in. "I'm Headmaster Dippet. This," He gestured to the toadish man. "Is Professor Slughorn, our Potionsmaster and head of Slythrin House. And this," He gestured to the man in the corner. "Is Professor Dumbledore, our Transfigurations teacher and Head of Griffindor House."
The second she glanced at this man, a wave of familiarity washed over her. For some reason the twinkle in this man's eyes was the most comforting thing she had seen in some time. It was like a warm blanket of relief had spread through her heart when it had felt chilled for so long. How long? She asked herself.
And it was he who addressed her first. "I am very curious as to how you've come to be in this situation, my dear."
He said. "Tell me, what do you remember?"
"I remember standing in the middle of the woods." She replied. "And my hands," She held them up. "There were deep cuts on my hands. It was very painful. I wandered aimlessly for hours. I had no idea which direction to go or how long I'd be walking before I found someone. It didn't take very long for me to realize that not only did I not know where I was, but I didn't know who I was, either."
"Curiouser, and curiouser. Wouldn't you say, Armando?" Professor Dumbledore commented.
"What I think is curious, Albus, is why did you fail to mention that the girl was injured in your letter to me, Mr. Fowles?"
"I simply thought she had done it on her way to finding me. She was in such hysterics by the time she stumbled upon the Three Broomsticks, I decided not to press the matter. And my wife was able to heal her easily enough, So i didn't think it was important to mention."
"I see. You said she was wearing strange clothing?" Headmaster Dippet inquired. "I see nothing peculiar with what she is wearing now."
"Mrs. Fowles gave me these." She piped up. "Mr Fowles has my clothes in that satchel."
"Ah! yes." Wilfred had been thinking about something and wasn't paying attention. "Here." He handed The Headmaster the satchel.
Headmaster Dippet fished through the bag and pulled out all her clothes. She felt her cheeks burn as he pulled out her wad of dirty socks, but he seemed less interested in them and more interested in her jeans.
"Well, Mr Fowles. I suppose you were right. How very strange." He checked the label. "Chic? That is French is it not, Albus?"
"Indeed, Armando. Though its meaning escapes me at the moment."
"Where do you suppose one could find the closest shop where one could purchase French clothing, Proffessor Slughorn? The Headmaster knew to ask him, being the more materialistic of the two. Dumbledore wouldn't bother with such trifles.
"Ah, there's a lovely boutique in Muggle London. But they are in the middle of a war themselves, conserving every resource in the effort. Getting ones hands on such luxuries would be very difficult, not to mention...expensive." The gleam in Professor Slughorn's eyes was missed by no one.
It had then occurred to Armando Dippet that whomever this girl was, she had obviously come from money. If she had the resources and the funds to purchase such frivilous items and not bat one eyelash when she'd ruined them, it may prove beneficial to aid her in any way possible.
"I'm sure I can speak for all of us when I express my deepest gratitude for going such trouble for a strange girl in these times." Headmaster Dippet addressed Wilfred. "We will handle things from this point. But know that if there is anything I can do for you.."
"Completely unnecissary, Headmaster." He turned to the girl. "I wish you much luck, my girl. Remember, you are welcome to visit anytime. Goodbye, dear." With that he turned and was out the door.
The Headmaster began folding up her clothes to place them back into the sachel when something fell out of the rear pocket. A small slip of paper fell onto his desk. The Headmaster retrieved said item and upon further inspection, discovered that it was a library card. A Hogwarts library card. It was registered to one Hermione Granger.
"Well this is most interesting." He said as he handed the card to Dumbledore. "What do you make of this, Albus?"
Dumbledore inspected the library card most intensley. He tapped it with his wand and when nothing happened, he spoke.
"This is most definately on of ours, Armando. But something has plagued me throughout this entire meeting."
"And what is that, Albus?" The Headmaster inquired.
"I'm afraid I do not remember seing this girl in any of my classes and even upon learning her name, still no memory comes to mind." He said, quite perturbed.
"Come to think of it. Headmaster, I also do not recognize this girl from any of my classes, either. Nor do i recognize her name." Both Dumbledore and Slughorn's eyes rested on Dippet as if they expected him to confirm her identity.
"Well don't look at me!" The Headmaster said defensively. "I see so many faces day-to-day its impossible for me to recognize just one. Honestly, hundreds of students stop me in the hall and say 'hello'. I can't really be expected to remember all their names, Names! AH!" He exclaimed. "I shall consult the List of Letters!"
The List of Letters was the enchanted list that recorded when each magical child born and when to send that child their Hogwarts letter.
"You look to be aroung sixteen or seventeen years of age." The Headmaster withdrew his wand and flicked it in the air. "Jee Arrr's, Please. Ninteen twenty-seven through thirty-one."
An old, yellow roll of parchment appeared out of thin air and landed in Dippet's hand. He unrolled it and began skimming through the names.
"Lets see...Grabble, Gradstone, Grae, Grafton, Graltenwuuld. Gramm, Grangis, Graphe. No Granger at all I'm afraid. This is most puzzling."
"Is it really, Armando?" Dumbeldore wondered out loud.
"What are your thoughts, Albus?" Dippet was most curious to what the old coot was thinking.
"Let's simply repeat our facts, shall we?" Dumbledore advised. "A strange girl which no one here has seen before, severly injured and wearing French clothing, having no recollection of who she is of where she came from, mysteriously appears in the middle of the woods, coincidentally as close as you can get to the school by apparating, with nothing to identify herself with other than a school issued library card which we have just proven to be falsified." Dumbledore sighed. "I would say someone was trying to make absoloutley sure we found you, Miss...Granger."
"Which is proof of her status." Proffessor Slughorn suggested. "One of Grindelwald's enemies in France, obviously English and very wealthy must have been one of those attacked recently. Which accounts for Miss Granger's clothes and wounds. In an attempt to save the life of their daughter, her parents Obliterated her mind to avert her detection and Apperated her as close to the grounds as they could, giving her only a very expertly forged Hogwarts library card registered under a pseudonym to identify herself with. Obviously the very best money can buy." He said. Lightly fingering the card.
"My, that's a very big story, Proffessor." Dumbledor said amusedly.
"Well, then. If that is the case, Miss Granger." The Headmaster smiled, ignoring Dumbledore. "Hogwarts will most certainly offer you aslyum. Reversing an Obliviation, I'm afraid, depending on the power of the caster can take some time to reverse. Until then I think I'll put you in the Head Girl's room, which is currently vacant seeing as we haven't had a Head Girl since..."
"Minerva Magonagall, Armando. Gryffindor." Dumbledore winked. (A/N Notice she never married?)
"Ah, yes. Quite some time. No one seems up for the job lately, I'm afraid. Also," He tapped Hermione's library card and his signature appeared under hers "Although I cannot allow you to attend classes until we get this whole mess sorted out, what I can offer you unrestricted access to the library to amuse yourself during the wait." He handed her the card and turned to Professor Slughorn. "Would you bring Tom to my office, Professor? I will have him escort her to her room, teach her the password et cetera. And you, of course may take your leave as well. If you like." Then he turnrd to Hermione. "Tom Riddle is our Head Boy. He's in Slytherin, and quite poszsibly the brightest student to attend Hogwarts since... You, Albus." Dippet glanced sideways toward Dumbledore.
"Anything is possible." Dumbledore said with the twinkle in his eyes most evident.
Slughorn opened his cloak and pulled out a miniature badge similar to the one the rude blond boy had. But instead of the letter 'P' the letters 'HB' were inscribed on the face. He tapped the badge with his wand and said; "To the Headmaster's office."
"I must ask you to be descreet where the students are concerned. If they ask, simply tell them you are an exchange student and you haven't begun classes yet because you've arrived a bit early and are still waiting for pending paperwork to file through. I will also see about getting you some new clothes and things. The house-elves should have them in your room by the time you arrive." The Headmaster mentioned.
About ten minutes later, the door reopened. Hermione didn't notice as she was chatting with Professor Dumbledore and couldn't shake this feeling that she knew him from somewhere before.
"You called for me, Headmaster?" Said a voice, crisp and clear like crushed velvet. Hermione whipped her head around.
A handsome boy with tidy ebony hair and alabaster skin looked at her with crystal clear gray eyes like the sea after a storm.
"Ah, Tom. There you are. This is Hermione Granger, she is an exchange student from France. She will be staying in the Head Girl's room as all other room is currently occupied. Please show her the way and teach her the password."
"Of course, Headmaster. This way, Hermione."
But Hermione wasn't listening.
Flashes of memory flooded her brain, of that very same boy kneeling before her. A flash of green light.
"I've been waiting for you."
Aaaaand that was one Loooooooong Chapter!
I came up with the name List of Letters because I couldn't remember what Rowling had called it, if she called it anything at all. You'll notice I used a lot of 'she' and 'the girl' when discribing Hermione rather than using her name. This was intentional. I wanted to cement the amnesia idea. I thought if I used her name it would confuse people or make them think she really didn't lose her memory.But once she learned her name I put it back. Fun fact: Wilfred is actually my grampa's name! It seemed to fit though! Well,TTFN!
