Because I haven't updated as I was supposed to, I'll do it the way I'm not supposed to - four at a time, if the World Wide Web is with me.


Hermione was not surprised when Edmund did not join her for the next day – Aslan did instead, sitting down and observing her as she transformed a branch into a large bucket, filling it with earth and clay from the river. The lion tilted his head as she added water and started to mix it just right, filling the holes of the stones before she sat them atop each other.

"Why do you this… the muggle way?", he asked. "I assume you are knowledgeable of how to build a house the wizard way."

Around him she had little qualms dropping her mask – Godric was one of her own, he did not fear her, nor did her question her. He welcomed and accepted her the way she was, and around him she could show herself, her light as well as her darkness. He was strong enough to take it all in and not be driven away from her – she smiled openly.

"Aslan, in a land where witchcraft is looked down upon in disdain? I wish to be accepted here, not burnt at the stake."

The lion winced. "No mentions of the stake, if you please – I'll have nightmares from that one."

She shot him an apologizing glance, knowing how just mere words could trigger a whole reaction, but did not say a word on it. He ignored her faux-pas and settled down on his front paws as well, still regarding her.

"How do you come to know these techniques anyway? Did you wish to become a builder?"

Hermione smiled again. "We called that an architect in our time." She said softly. "But no… I didn't, not consciously. But I read a few books on construction and architecture, the muggle and the magical kind and once the walls are built and the roof is on, I will strengthen the house with a few charms and wards."

The lion nodded, continuing to watch her. It was gruelling work and tiring to the bone, but it paid off. The playing children had stopped making a large bow around her, instead, integrating her in their games of what she supposed was their equivalent of Indians, the American kind. She did not know what their game was called, but she knew that, once children started to trust in you, so would their parents sooner or later. Children, no matter the cult or nation, were sacred.

Luna had once told her of a credo from the Lakota: Everything comes from the woman and we praise what therefore is given to us from Mother Earth, praying that we shall live in harmony with her children, for children are sacred and no harm should be done to them. Other folks might not know about the credo, but Hermione found it to be true most of the time.

As the sun burnt down on her, she cursed her long-sleeved garments, but in the light of showing her scars – she figured this would be the better alternative. Slowly she built the Eastern wall first, going by the glare of the sun. Glad for shielding charms, she renewed hers now and then, hoping to reduce the risk of a heatstroke – until now she had been able to.

Days without a proper meal had made her sluggish though and she could hear her stomach growl now and then, ignoring it most of the time and stilling her hunger with herbs she had found in the small sliver of wood behind her growing hut. By noon she had finished the Eastern wall to a satisfactory height, two heads above her – she'd needed to stand atop a quietly conjured stool, cursing the fact that she still had to work above her head, actively using muscles she hadn't in a long time.

Evening out the wall, she took a step back, taking a look around it. Aslan hummed astounded. "For someone who has only read about construction I say your wall looks surprisingly sturdy, and straight."

Hermione managed a small smile. "I might have charmed myself to be able to build a straight wall instead of a crooked one – I might be a witch, but I don't need to make an impression by building a crooked witch's hut as well."

The lion snorted affectionately, but said nothing and so, enthusiastic about her success, the witch started with the Southern wall, facing the forest.


By evening Hermione was tired as she could possibly ever be. Her rumbling stomach was not even given attention anymore, and neither was the hunger positively gnawing at her, herbs or no herbs – she hadn't had meat in several months. Nevertheless she slipped into her small, stony huddle, cast a few wards and promptly fell asleep.

Godric, from his venture point, watched in silence.

The Southern wall had been completed, straight and sturdy as the Eastern wall, connected by what he would call a masterfully crafted corner – Hermione, while untrained in the practical appliance, seemed to have read a lot of books on construction, and, true Gryffindor, didn't back down from a good challenge.

Rising on silent feet, he neared the construction. The smell of clay clung pleasantly to the stones which all hummed contently, assembled in a wall – he smiled: the witch knew more than she let on, for even Helga had had to be taught that only willing stones would make a sturdy castle.

He looked at the curly-hair at the entrance of the stony-huddle that Hermione had claimed as her resting place. She was a strong witch that one, and a strong person – convinced of her opinions, but flexible enough to allow new opinions to claim their place. She was a hard worker, ready to settle in and blend with the environments around her, even if it meant slave away in the scorching heat of the sun.

She was right, of course, when she had said that building her hut the 'muggle' way would allow for acceptance better than simply collecting the stones and erecting it from one day to the other with a few swishes of her wand. The village was aware of the witch – word travelled quickly – and until now had left her largely in peace, the children, naturally, were curious about her and hence didn't precisely heed their parents' orders but had made enormous bows around her, not completely trusting. But their bows and circles grew smaller, less anxious, more curious. It was a good, if slow, development.


And, honestly? THANK YOU FOR ALL THE ENCOURAGING REVIEWS! I LOVE YOU!