Disclaimer I don't Own the secret garden nor do I own Harry Potter (I wish I did) this is my twist on the classic books with Harry Potter characters

in my version of the story they are a lot older with Hermione being 17 (able to do magic) and Harry and Draco 18. I won't stop with the end of the book but keep going as I want to add a romance in there (maybe) but that's only if people like what they are reading .

Hermione Granger ~ Mary Lennox
Draco Malfoy ~ Colin Craven
Harry Potter ~ Dickon Sowerby (Harry is adopted into the Weasley family in this story)
Ginny Weasley ~ Martha Sowerby
Albus Dumbledore ~ Ben Weatherstaff
Lucius Malfoy ~ Archibald Craven
Minierva McGinagall ~ Mrs. Medlock (she played her in the movie and was perfect!)
Narcissa Malfoy ~ lily Craven (dead in this like the book, but she is referred to a lot)
Severus Snape ~ Doctor Craven (he is going to be best friend to Lucius and "uncle" figure Draco)
Mrs Weasley ~ Susan Sowerby

Chapter 9

Hermione wasn't sure what she was expecting, however anything she could have imagined she knew would not have come close to what she saw right in front of her. The garden was the most mysterious looking place Hermione had ever seen. The high walls on either side of the door were covered with leafless stems of climbing roses. Hermione knew they were roses because they were a particular favourite flower of hers and they were the one flower her Father had insisted be in their gardens in India. The young woman couldn't help but glance worriedly at the stems next to her, they were so matted together they had created a thick second skin to the wall.

Hermione took a deep breath before she slowly moved into the garden, looking all round at what the enchanted garden had to offer her. The ground that wasn't the delicate path was covered with grass, though it was a wintry brown in colour that had Hermione worried a little, out of the grasses grew small brushes which perhaps would have been rosebushes if they were alive. There were many different trees in the garden, and as she looped around what would have been a lovely little pond she noticed that something that had made the place even stranger but beautiful was that the roses had found a way to creep and wrap their way all over most of the trees. There were neither leaves nor roses on any of these trees now and Hermione had no idea if anything in the garden was dead or alive. She didn't know any spells that could help her find out if the garden was alive or not but oh how she wish she did know some in those moment. The thin greying brown branches of the trees and the lifeless looking tangles that had overgrown on the ground made everything have a mysterious hazy. Hermione couldn't help but realise how different this one garden was compared to the ones she had spent day after day looking around. Those gardens hadn't been left by themselves to grow for 16 years. They didn't have the magical mystery to them.

"It is so still," Hermione whispered as she moved around the garden, her sharp eyes looking at everything they could. She walked under one of the magical grey arches between trees and looked up at the sprays and tendrils that had formed there, "I wonder if you are dead," she couldn't help but ask out loud, "you seem quiet dead garden. I wish you weren't." if she had been Albus she knew she would have known a spell to help her see if the wood was alive or not, but to her it all just looked grey and brown, with nothing showing any signs of life at all.

But this did not dishearten the girl, not at all. For she finally stood inside of the magical garden and she knew now she had the key and had been allowed access to the door she could come through the ivy any time she wanted. Hermione supressed a squeal as she realised she had found her own little space in this big queer place she now called home. She closed her eyes as the sun shone into the garden, only opening her eyes when she heard the familiar chirping of Robin. It seemed as if he had waited for the girl to explore the magic of the garden before he flitted down from the tree-tops and hopped over to her. She noticed he had a busy air to him as if he wanted to show her everything within the garden. She followed the small bird round the garden and couldn't help but feel like she was hundreds of miles away from any one and anything, but somehow she didn't feel lonely at all. Not like she did at the start of her time here at the manor. There was only one thing troubling her as she walked behind the bird, that was she wished to know if the roses bushes were alive or not. She felt she could perhaps revive them in memory of her father, in memory of the A2unt she never knew. She didn't want the garden to be dead. She knew if it was a live it would be a wonderful place.

The skipping rope Ginny had given her this morning was hung over her arm as she wandered carefully around the garden. As she wandered she noticed that in the corners of the garden there were alcoves of evergreens with stone seats and tall moss-covered flower urns. As she came to the second of these alcoves she stopped her wandering, within the urn she swore she saw something sticking out of the dark earth – some small sharp little pale green things.

Hermione turned to look at Robin who tilted his head to listen to what the girl had to say, "Are these the tiny little growing things Albus was telling me about" she whispered to the bird who let out a string of chirps causing the girl to smile as she imagined him say something like 'why of course they are. Tough those flowers are'

Turning her focus back to the green stubs, "They might be crocuses or snowdrops or daffodils. Perhaps there are some other ones coming up in other places," she said, turning with a sharper focused gaze over the garden. She started to walk around the garden once again. She went slowly, her eyes on the ground. She looked in each of the flower beds and among the grass. By the time she had found her way back to second alcove again she had found many more of the sharp green points coming from the ground, which had her excited that just maybe the garden wasn't as dead as she had initially thought.

Hermione settled herself so she was sat on the ground, watching as Robin flew around and chirped as he went about his normal day. As she watched him she started to clear little patches in the little patches near her. She didn't know much about gardening but in places she couldn't help but think the grass was too think in some places and the small green spouts nearby to her didn't have room to grow and breath due to it. Using her wand she went about to clear little places around each of the sprouts. "Now, they look like they can breathe," she told Robin as she finished the first few, "I think I should go around and do a few more. I don't have much time today but I will try to do them all"

It seemed Robin was happy to have someone in his garden helping to bring it to life, as he watched the young witch get to her feet and happily move from place to place with her wand in her hand trying to do the best she could to help the small plants grow. Robin had often wondered why Albus Dumbledore could not come into the garden, but he learned he had needed to wait for this young witch. This little witch who needed his garden as much as his garden needed her.

Hermione worked away in the garden until it was time for her dinner. In fact she was almost late, if it wasn't for the fact she had set an alarm on her wand she knew she would have forgotten all about dinner. As she gathered her cloak and skipping rope from the stone bench she had placed them on she could not believe she had been working away for almost 4 hours in the garden. She was most amazed that she had been happy the whole time she had been working away. In her time she had found dozens and dozens of small little points and had made a great deal to carefully clear around each and every one of them. Hermione turned at the door to look back at the garden. She wasn't sure if she was imagining it or not but she swore the place looked twice as cheerful and beautiful than it had when she had entered the garden, now that the grass and weeds to an extent had been pushed out the way. "I promise to come back when I can," she told the garden, looking round her new safe spot, speaking to the roses and the trees as if they were Robin and they could understand her.

With that she turned on her heel, pushes open the slow old door, slipping out from under the ivy with a grin on her face. Making sure to take the key from the door before she sprinted from the maze and through the gardens back to the manor house. Ginny couldn't believe her eyes when Hermione appeared late, out of breath, but with bright eyes and a beautiful rose tint to her cheeks. "Eh!" the girl laughed good naturedly, "My mother will be pleased when I tell her what a skippin'-rope has done for thee"

This caused Hermione to grin a little before she finished her 3rd slice of cake that meal, leaning back in her chair as she did. Oh how being out in the garden had made her hungry. "Albus was telling me all about the things about to grow in the garden," Hermione told Ginny as she wiped her mouth and loaded her plates onto the silver tray with a flick of her hand and she and her friend settled into the armchairs by the fire for a few moments. They both knew that Ginny got an hour off to present Hermione her dinner and these days Hermione didn't need cleaned up after so the girl got a well needed hour to put her feet up and talk as Hermione ate. As Hermione settled into the squashy arm chair she looked over at Ginny, "What are those white roots that look like onions?" in the garden she had come across the root looking thing in the ground. She wasn't sure what it was and she thought it was better to be safe than sorry and carefully patted down the earth on top of it.

"They're bulbs," Ginny answered for her instantly, assuming her friend was asking because of something she had seen in the gardens while talking to the old gardener Albus Dumbledore, "Lots o' spring flowers grown from 'em. Th' very little ones are snowdrops an' crocuses an' th' big ones are narcissuses an' jonquils and daffydillys. Eh! Those are ma favourite ones." Ginny said with a small sigh, smiling at the look on Hermione's face. She could almost see the cogs whirring in the girl's brain as she took in all the information Ginny told her.

"Do bulbs live a long time? Would they live for years even if no one helped them?" Hermione inquired after a moment.

"They helps themselves," Ginny answered with a nod, "that's why poor folk can afford to have 'em. If you don't disturb 'em, most of 'em'll work away underground for a lifetime, spreading out an' having little 'uns. There's a clearin' in the park near The Burrow where theres snowdrops by thousands. They're the prettiest sight in Yorkshire when th' spring comes, no one knows when they was first planted but we all love 'em the same"

Hermione couldn't help but sigh wistfully, she couldn't wait to hopefully see the park Ginny was talking about, "I wish spring was here now, I want to see all the things that grow here in England" she sighed, and after a moment in which Crookshanks jumped up onto her lap and settled with a rhythmic purr she spoke again, "I-I wish I had perhaps a little spade or something"

Ginny titled her head at the girl trying to work out her thinking, "Whatever does tha' want that for? I'm sure Albus might have some for thee if thee asked him."

Hermione turned to look at the fire as she stroked Crookshanks, she knew she had to be careful about what she said if she wanted to keep the garden a secret. It wasn't that she didn't trust Ginny, but if somehow her Uncle found out about the door being open he might get angry and lock it up forever. That was a thought Hermione could not bear. "this place is ever so lonely, no matter how grand it is," she said slowly and carefully, as she thought over her words before she spoke them, "it seems that there are so many places shut up. You know I didn't do much when I was in India, I never had the strength plus no one talked to me, which I guess is the same here with the exception of you, Neville and Albus Dumbledore. But even you two have to work, so I was thinking that perhaps if I had a little spade or something I could help in the gardens or at least learn about them if Albus would give me some seeds."

Hermione looked up to see Ginny smiling at her, "tha always amazes me. That was one of th' things my mother said. She says, 'There's such a lot o' room in that big place, why don't they give her a bit for herself, even if she doesn't plant nothin' but parsley an' carrots, she'd dig an' rake away an' be right down happy over it.' Them was the very words she said"

"Were they?" Hermione couldn't help but ask in amazement, "Your mother seems like a wise women"

"She's the mother o' 8, I'm sure she learned something besides her A B Cs." Ginny shrugged good-naturedly but Hermione could tell she was proud that Hermione like her mother so much.

"How much do you think it would cost, a spade I mean?" Hermione asked.

Ginny let out a puff of breath as she thought, "Well, at Thwaite village there's a shop an' I think I saw garden sets with a spade an' a rake an' a fork all together for 2 Sickles."

"I've got more than that in my purse," Hermione said, she wasn't boasting she was simply stating a fact, "The Generals Wife gave me 5 Galleons when we travelled over here, and Mrs McGonagall gives me money from my Uncle."

"I honestly didn't think he'd remember thee" Ginny bluntly spoke causing Hermione to smile a little, she too had been surprised when McGonagall had told her about her weekly allowance.

"McGonagall gives me a Galleon every Saturday, thought I don't have much to spend it on"

"My word! That's riches," Ginny said, "tha' can buy anything in th' world tha' wants with that! Now I've just thought of somethin' marvellous" Ginny said as she got to her feet, both of them knew it was because she had work to do before she could settle with Hermione for the evening before bed.

"What?" Hermione asked eagerly.

"Well the shop also sell packets o' flower-seeds for a knut each, and our Harry knows which is th' prettiest ones an, how to make 'em grow. He flys to Thwaite many a day just for th' fun of it. Tha' could write him a letter an' ask him if he'd buy th' garden tools an' th' seeds at th' same time"

"Oh you are brilliant!" Hermione cried, "Let's go see if McGonagall has parchment and ink I can borrow!"

"I have some of my own," Ginny told her, "I brought them with me so I could write to Charlie, he's going back to Romania you see. I'll go fetch 'em" with that Ginny turned and ran from the room leaving Hermione and hew new familiar by the fire.

"If I get some tools," Hermione whispered to Crookshanks, "I can go back to the garden and dig up the weeds and turn the earth. If I have seeds I can made flowers grow and the garden won't be dead – it will come alive"

Hermione changed out of her outdoor clothes and bathed, when she entered her living room again she saw parchment, a quill and ink on the table that was now clear. Hermione assumed Ginny was busy doing whatever McGonagall needed, so she settled herself down to write a letter to Harry. It was tough for Hermione as she had never met the boy and was unsure how to approach the subject, however she soon felt many drafts later the letter she got Ginny to read over was perfect;

Dear Harry,

I hope this finds you as well as it leaves me at present. My name is Miss Hermione Granger, I am currently residing at Malfoy Manor as I'm sure you are aware. Ginny has informed me you regularly go to Thwaite and I was hoping you could buy me some flower seeds and a set of garden tools to make flower-beds. I would prefer if you picked the prettiest flowers and the ones that are easiest to grow as ive never grown anything before though I am keen to learn. Ginny sends the family her love, and I promise to tell her many stories about elephants and camels and the gentlemen who hunt lions and tigers so she can tell the family on Sunday.

Thank you

Hermione

"It is perfect Hermione, and we'll put the money in th' envelope an' I'll get the chief to add it in the pile of mail to the village. Everyone knows Harry so he'll get it no problem" Ginny told her friend once she had read over the letter that evening.

"How shall I get the things once Harry buys them? Will be owl post them to me?"

"He'll bring 'em to thee himself. He'll like the excuse to walk over this way."

"Oh!" Hermine exclaimed, suddenly excited and nervous at the same time, "so I shall meet him? I never thought I should ever see Harry until your Sunday dinner"

Ginny gave the girl a look Hermione could not interpret but before Hermione could ask her about it she asked slyly, "Does tha' want to meet him?"

"Yes I do," Hermione replied, making sure to add, "I have never seen a boy whom foxes and owls love. I very much would like to meet him"

Hermione comment seemed to click something in Ginny's brain as she sat up with a start causing Hermione to raise her eyebrows in surprise, "I just remembered," Ginny suddenly spoke, "I was goin' to tell you first thing this morin' but I forgot. I asked mother – and she said she'd ask Mrs McGonagall her own self."

"Do you mean-" Hermione began, hoping what she thought Ginny was going to say was true.

"Aye, what we discussed. I asked if you might join me on a Sunday on the walk to The Burrow some day and join us for dinner."

Hermione couldn't help but feel all her hopes where coming true today, she would have tools for the secret garden, she may meet Harry, and perhaps she could one day walk across the moor with Ginny to meet her mother and have food in the quirky Burrow with her brothers. "Does she think McGonagall will let me go?" Hermione asked.

"Aye, she thinks she will allow it. Mother is a tidy women and she keeps a clean house as Mrs McGonagall knows, though she will need your Uncles approval before you can initially go."

This didn't faze Hermione, she was sure her Uncle would give her permission there was nothing wrong with the suggestion, "if I went I could see your mother, as well as Harry and your brothers," Hermione spoke allowed, rather liking the idea, "your mother doesn't seem to be like any of the mothers in India." This caused Ginny to laugh before the two settled into a comfortable silence.

It seemed her work in the garden that day and the excitement of the evening had made Hermione quiet and thoughtful. Ginny stayed with her until 10pm, as the girl got to her feet and flicked Hermione's supper tray so it would float in front of her Hermione turned to ask, "Ginny," she started, "does Lavender Brown have toothache again today?"

The question seemed to startle the red head, who turned to her with a frown, "what makes thee ask that?"

"Because when I was drawing my bath, I wandered down the corridor to get fresh towels and I swore I heard that far-off crying again, just as we heard it the other night. There isnt wind today, so it couldn't have been the wind."

"Eh!" Ginny said restlessly, "tha' mustn't go walkin' about the corridors an' listenin' at doors. Mr Malfoy would be that angry there's no knowing what he'd do."

"I wasn't listening." Hermione defiantly replied, her sour-self appearing again. "I was getting fresh towels for my bath when I heard it. That's three times now"

"My word!" Ginny gasped, but thankfully she was saved when a bell rang in the distance, "That's Mrs McGonagall's bell," she said almost fearfully as she all but ran from the room with the silver tray following behind her.

"You know Crooks, this is the strangest house any one has ever lived in." Hermione told her familiar drowsily, her head dropping onto the squashy armchair as sleep took over. It seemed the combination of Fresh air, digging, the skipping rope and the exciting news she may meet the Weasley's and Harry had her so terribly tired.

Tell me your thoughts, thanks

Sarahx