CHAPTER NINE
The Boy-Who-Lived and The-Girl-Who-Hid.
-Wizarding Britain, 1824-
The prophecy had been made by one Sybil Trelawney in the midst of a crowded bar. Everyone within and few feet had heard it, for the voice of a Seer was powerful enough to counteract even the strongest of magics.
'Given to those who have thrice defied him; given as the winter solstice dawns. The one who will oppose the Dark Lord approaches swiftly. This one will battle the darkness within to find light. Born as the Dark Lord's equal, this one will suffer the consequences and see them all into battle, where they will perish for the Greater Good.'
It was only too easy to track down the only magical orphanage in Wizarding Britain. All of the Muggle-born children who had been abandoned by their Muggle parents were being extricated to safe houses and magical families, one of them being the Longbottom family.
Supposedly a well-kept secret, news still leaked that the Longbottoms were set to welcome a young boy into their family. Albus Dumbledore set the wards on their home, and performed the Fidelius Charm to protect them and the newest addition to their family.
Selene Lovegood had been the Secret Keeper for Frank and Alice Longbottom.
Selene and Alice had been best friends during their time at Hogwarts, and their friendship had only gotten stronger over time. Xeno and Selene had been named the godparents of Alice and Frank's first child, Neville, and would have been given the same honour for their adopted son, Harry, if the Longbottoms had not perished before they were able to do so. Frank and Alice were similarly given the title of godparents for Xeno and Selene's own girl, Luna.
A kind and gentle soul, Selene would have ever only sought the protection of those she loved, and it was with this in mind that Albus Dumbledore had agreed to make her Secret Keeper of the Longbottom home.
Only a week after Selene had been made Keeper the Death Eaters took her. She never would have given the address willingly - Lord Voldemort knew this. Selene was far too loyal to her friends and family to betray them.
So they filled her with potion and destroyed her psyche until Selene forgot who she was, let alone why she kept the Longbottom address locked within the deep recesses of her mind.
Tom Riddle went to the Longbottom house alone on that dark winter's eve. The wards were no protection from a dark wizard as skilled as he. The parents, skilled Aurors they were, died quickly. Alice Longbottom had knelt before the two boys' beds and begged for their lives.
Young Harry Evans had only been delivered that day; after numerous visits to the magical orphanage where he had been kept. Alice and Frank had both adored the little boy with the knobby knees.
He'd been delivered to their home the same night Sirius had taken Hermione to live with him - the first night of the winter solstice.
-Wizarding Britain, 1825-
Relations between the wizarding and Muggle communities had become increasingly strained. The celebration of the Dark Lord's downfall had seen witches and wizards alike blatantly exposing magic in front of Muggles. The backlash was fast and numerous, the witch- and wizard-burnings many. It had fallen to the Ministry to try to persuade the British King to restore order.
The Marriage Law was put into effect. Those with magical blood, or related by blood or marriage to those with magical blood, would not longer be permitted to marry Muggles. New Anti-Muggle laws prevented contact with Muggles outside of the bare necessities. Failure to comply with the Marriage Law meant the guillotine (in the case of the Muggles) or incarceration in Azkaban (in the case of those with magical blood).
At first, it was seen as an forbidden love affair; a secret love tryst between two star-crossed lovers. Death and imprisonment for falling in love? How tragic and exciting!
The Ministry was only too quick to put its foot down, however grimly.
In the first few months that followed, nearly five hundred people were sentenced, at varying degrees of offense.
The people simmered down, pulling away their wandering gazes and putting theirs heads down. Those who had been made into examples were paraded across newspapers and those who had something to hide were subject to scandalous gossip. King Louis-Phillippe saw the new order that had been established and instituted a similar proclamation with the help of the French Minister of Magic.
The subjects of France, however, were not so easily cowed, and whispers of unrest and rebellion brewed in the shadows. It would be during this time period that the first revolution would take place.
-Paris, France, 1828-
Life in Paris has settled down for Hermione and Sirius since they've adjusted to their new lives. Hermione enjoys the large selection of books procured for her by Sirius, who spares no expense for his god daughter. It has been four long years since Sirius escaped from the hospital and took Hermione under his wing.
Evenings are spent curled up in front of a warm fireplace reading Hermione's choice of books. Sirius is only too happy to comply with her wishes. Hermione is an extraordinarily well-behaved child, although they do get into brief debates about trivial things like bedtime. Sirius had watched the now nearly eleven-year-old (it turns out she had been older than his first estimate, and Sirius had spent some time assuring her she would in fact grow up tall,) girl carry herself like an adult, and part of him wanted to tell her not to grow up just yet.
It is on a cool summer night that there is a knock at the door. Sirius is in the middle of reading Romeo and Juliet to Hermione, who is absolutely engulfed in the story. He smiles nervously at her disgruntled look in the face of the interruption.
"Stay here while I get the door," he tells her, drawing his wand. Sirius composes his features in order to appear calm. Hermione doesn't flinch, however; she is now used to this kind of cautious behaviour.
Peering carefully through the curtain, Sirius heaves a sigh of relief. It's Headmaster Dumbledore, with Fawkes the phoenix perched on his shoulder. While Polyjuice is always a possibility, it is frankly completely impossible to impersonate a phoenix. He undoes the lock on the door and removes some of the wards on it.
"Sirius," Dumbledore greets him fondly, looking much the same as he had those years ago when he had granted Sirius his freedom. "Or, should I say, 'Monsieur Fauchelevent?'" Sirius doesn't bother to ask how Dumbledore knows his new fake name, regardless of how Sirius had left it out of his letters during their infrequent correspondence. "I assume you know why I'm here."
It takes him a moment to figure it out. "Hermione," he says faintly. "But is her name not down for Beauxbatons?"
A merry twinkle dances in Dumbledore's eyes. "I may have pulled a few strings." (Meddling old man, Sirius thinks to himself.) "Hermione is on the Hogwarts list, now. Her current status is that of an orphan. I do believe you understand this is for your safety."
"You-Know-Who is long gone," Sirius protests. "The Boy-Who-Lived -"
"Voldemort is not dead," Dumbledore says. "And Harry Evans will be in terrible danger when he returns."
This stops Sirius cold. "And you want me to send Hermione to Hogwarts?" He takes a step back, allowing the wizard into the house. Sirius closes the door behind Albus and goes to replace the wards, but Dumbledore raises his own wand.
"Allow me." Sirius does, and Dumbledore casts a number of non-verbal spells.
"Snuffles? Papa?" Hermione calls, "Are you done yet? Can we finish Romeo and Juliet now?"
"Not quite. I have a visitor for you," Sirius smiles, stepping back into the living room.
"For me?" Hermione leaps up, beaming with rosy cheeks at the rare occurrence. "Who is it?"
"He's a friend your father's; he used to be his teacher."
The girl's eyes widen. "He teaches magic? Do I get to go learn too? You said perhaps I could attend Beauxbatons -"
"This is Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. He teaches at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry," Sirius continues evasively.
"Hello, Hermione," Dumbledore holds out a hand, which Hermione clasps eagerly and shakes firmly.
"Hullo, Headmaster Dumbledore," Hermione squeaks.
"I was just talking with, ah, Snuffles about the possibility of you attending Hogwarts."
"Really?" She traipses over to Sirius, endless curiosity evident in her face. "Can I go? I want to go! You and father went to learn magic there, and I want to too! Please? I'll write every day, I promise. I'll get good grades and everything!"
Sirius can't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "I wouldn't be surprised if you turned out to be the brightest witch of your age, Hermione."
"So can I go?" she asks cautiously.
Sirius rakes a hand through his thinning hair. He doesn't want her to go; this little ray of sunshine who burst into his life and planted herself firmly in his heart.
"Hogwarts is the safest place considering the unrest in the streets," Dumbledore says softly. "You needn't worry about that. Professor McGonagall is still teaching. No doubt you remember her."
"Yes," he sighs, "I do. Put James and I in detention more often than not."
"Please?" Hermione hedges, blinking puppy eyes at him.
"Alright," he throws his hands up. "I can sense when I'm losing an argument."
"Hoorah!" Hermione cheers, tackling her godfather in a tight hug. "Thank you, thank you! Merci beaucoup!"
Sirius pats her bushy brown hair. "Hoorah," he echoes.
AN: Bittersweet ending here. Next is most likely Hermione's seven years of Hogwarts in either letter form or a quick summary from Sirius' POV. I have yet to decide. In case of confusion, I'd like to just clarify that I deliberately wrote the prophecy to be ambiguous; it could refer to Harry or Hermione. Who it actually refers to will be my secret until the time is right. :) As school is starting soon, I'd like to remark that updates might come a bit slower. Please review!
