Hermione turned around, bemusedly starting to ask why copies of the Bible and accompanying children's handbooks for the Christian theology were shelved under nonfiction, when she felt the force of Legilimency attempt to penetrate her mind. By instinct, her Occlumency shields snapped up, and she stared at the boy who had locked eyes with her.
Tom took a step back in surprise and fear. "Y-you…" He could not finish the sentence. His gift, for reading people's minds, had never been blocked before.
Hermione smiled wryly, and with a flick of her hand, the library door closed itself, leaving them alone in the cold room. "That was an impressive feat of magic you did there," she told him.
He trembled, but his voice became steady. "You have it too, then."
"Yes," she said.
"What do you want with me?"
"Well," she said mildly, "For starters, I'd like to adopt you. If you want."
Hope that he had suppressed over the years bloomed in his heart. He slowly drew in a breath. He needed to remain steady. "Where are we going?" He questioned.
"My workplace and place of residence, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You'll be home-schooled, probably a better option than what Mrs. Cole can manage for you. You aren't legally able to use a wand until age eleven; however, we can practice wandless magic like what you have demonstrated just now."
Tom realized he probably shouldn't have done it. "Sorry," he said. "I just wanted to know."
Hermione drew her lips into a tight line. "Do you do it often?"
"Only when I think someone's hiding something," said Tom defensively.
She sucked in a deep breath, the air chilling her lungs. She needed to tread carefully. "Tom, I will truthfully answer any questions you have for me."
"Okay," he said. Then he hesitated, and decided to test the waters. "What was that feeling of- I can't really describe it. When I first saw you. You felt it too, right?"
"My best guess is you were probably reacting to my magic. Some wizards have that special attuned feeling, and also since you've been living with Muggles- non-magical people, you know- it came as a surprise for you."
"Okay," he said again. Then he shivered.
"Here, let's get out of this cold," said Hermione, crossing the room and turning the icy doorknob. "And Tom?"
"Yes, Miss Dagworth-Granger?" he replied, remembering his manners.
"Hermione, please," she corrected.
"Hermione."
"Consider this to be your first lesson in magic: The pure and unabashed truth can only be revealed with a foundation of trust, not by force. That is no means to an end."
