Becoming
Chapter 14
August 1, 2007
At breakfast at the manor, everyone looked on in amusement as Hermione ate her usual morning feast before heading to the Ministry. Her Muggle Studies work-study program was going well. She was currently working on a required genealogy project.
"How's your project coming?" Draco asked as Hermione finished off her second glass of milk, gesturing for the pitcher for a refill. Lucius passed it to Draco, who filled her glass.
"Fine I guess. Nothing spectacular in the Granger-McIlvane line," Hermione said.
"You may peruse the charts of the Malfoy line if you wish, as a reference," Lucius said.
"The Black line as well," Narcissa added.
"Thanks, I'll keep it in mind," Hermione said.
She wiped her mouth and pushed her chair back. At three months along in pregnancy, she had a modest bulge and a glow about her. Draco could do nothing but adore her. He stood up and helped her to her feet. She kissed his cheek.
"I'll be going to the library in London to use their computers after the morning meeting, it will help," Hermione said and the two left the dining room.
"Did you eat that much carrying Draco?" Lucius asked Narcissa, gesturing the three plates Hermione had used.
"Yes dear, I did," Narcissa said, patting his hand.
Draco came back into the dining room and started clearing the table.
"What are your plans today Draco?" Lucius asked.
"Meeting with an apothecary owner who's looking to sell his business," Draco said. "Severus has indicated his interest as well, so we might go into it together."
"Outstanding," Lucius said. "So I take it Potter was unable to wheedle you into Magical Law Enforcement?"
"It's not my cup of tea, I've had enough excitement for a lifetime," Draco said. "I actually want to be here for my daughter or son."
Draco met Hermione for lunch at a deli in Diagon Alley. Hermione found a deli that made "perfect sandwiches" in her opinion. Food was a big deal, so no one argued with her. They walked into the deli and went to the counter.
"Hermione! Draco!" was heard from behind them.
They turned to see Harry and Ginny in a booth waving at them.
"You go see them, I'll order," Draco said.
He knew what she wanted because she ordered the same thing every time she came here for lunch. Hermione got to their table. Ginny hopped up and hugged her.
"Herms, you got bigger!" Ginny said. "You look fabulous!"
"Yeah, you look great, we haven't seen you since the wedding," Harry said. "Sit, please."
Hermione sat down and looked to the counter. Draco was paying the cashier and brought their drinks. An extra large milk for Hermione and a grape juice for Draco.
"Hermione, you never drink milk," Harry noted.
"I do now," Hermione said, taking a huge gulp, leaving a milk mustache. "Can't get enough."
"By the gallon," Draco commented.
He chuckled and wiped the milk mustache from her lips with a napkin then kissed her cheek. A waiter arrived with their trays. A foot long meatball hero sandwich with all the toppings, a large basket of chips, chocolate chip cookies and fruit salad for Hermione, and a simple ham and cheese sandwich for Draco.
"Wow Hermione, you going to eat all that?" Harry asked.
"Just watch," Draco said.
Hermione groaned in bliss when she took a bite of the sub.
"So what are you two doing here?" Draco asked.
"Lunch date," Harry said.
"Arg-ew-thew-gong-ot?" Hermione asked as she chewed.
Ginny snorted, this from Britain's premier manner minder.
"Yes, we are going out," Ginny said.
"What about Pansy?" Hermione asked, no longer chewing.
"We broke it off not long after your wedding," Harry said. "Apparently, I was just a school thing."
"Interesting, last I heard, she was thinking of the names of your children," Hermione quipped.
"Ha ha Mione," Harry said, tossing a napkin at her.
"So how long have you two been seeing each other?" Hermione asked.
"Since June 20th," Harry said.
"You do look sweet together," Hermione said.
"So what's up with you two?" Ginny asked.
Draco told them about the apothecary and Hermione told them about her work-study program and apprenticeship to start later in the month.
"I'll be teaching the third year Arithmancy classes, and assisting Professor Vector with the rest," Hermione said proudly. "On top of studies, of course."
"How's Auror training Potter?" Draco asked.
Hermione took another inhumanly large bite of her sub.
"A lot of classes in advanced dueling techniques," Harry said. "They throw rough stuff at us trainees to weed out those who don't have the stomach for it."
"What do they do with the ones that don't make it?" Hermione asked.
"They train them for duty at Azkaban, or as Ministry police, or interrogators," Harry said. "Magical Law Enforcement has lots of positions, being an Auror isn't for everyone."
When lunch came to an end, Hermione told Ginny, "Owl me, would you? We can get together for dinner or something."
"Sure thing Herms, take care of yourself and the little one," Ginny said, hugging Hermione.
Draco put some cookies in a take-away bag for Hermione and the two left the deli hand-in-hand.
"Harry, you remembered the exact day we had our first date? That's sweet," Ginny said, kissing him.
Narcissa was in the kitchen taking rolls out of the oven when Hermione burst in the front door, calling out for Draco.
"He hasn't made it home quite yet," Narcissa said, coming from the kitchen, stopping in surprise at the sight of Hermione.
She looked excited about something, hair disheveled, her satchel stuffed haphazardly with papers. She couldn't stand still. Lucius came from the parlor.
"Did something happen today?" Narcissa asked.
"Let me get some milk first and I'll explain," Hermione said.
In the kitchen she summoned a glass while opening the fridge for the milk pitcher.
"I found out something absolutely brilliant today in my genealogy project! Mum will flip!" Hermione said. "Can she come over?"
"Of course," Lucius said.
"I've made enough for dinner," Narcissa said diplomatically.
Of course she did, Hermione had a huge appetite to appease.
"Great, let me call her," Hermione said, digging for her cell and went to the parlor. "Hey mum, I really want you to come to the manor for supper this evening. You remember that genealogy project of mine? I found something absolutely brilliant from your line. Yes mum, the McIlvane line. Yes mum, I'm bigger. You'll come? Great, see you soon."
"What is the news?" Narcissa said.
"I'll tell when everyone is here," Hermione said, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
Draco arrived at home the same time Kathy drove up.
"Kathy, what a pleasant surprise. Joining us for dinner?" Draco said, opening the door for her.
"Yes, apparently something exciting happened that I just have to know," Kathy said.
"We're home!" Draco called out.
Hermione met them in the foyer, kissing Draco then hugging her mother.
"Dinner's ready," Hermione said. "Your mum made the biggest meatloaf I've ever seen!"
When dinner was over, Kathy tossed her napkin aside. "Now pumpkin, what is this big news that caused me to make a hour long trip?"
Hermione grinned and hurried from the room, returning a minute later with her trusty leather satchel, the very one she had when she started Hogwarts. Kathy recognized it; John got it for her, stamped with "HJG" on the side. With a wave of her wand, she banished the mess from the table to the kitchen and arranged the papers on the table.
"Pumpkin, I really don't understand all this," Kathy said.
"Okay, this pile is Daddy's ancestors," Hermione said. "Did you know his line were knights at one time? The last knight of his line, a member of some order called the Order of Saint-John died in 1325 from wounds suffered while fighting the Turks. Then in 1756 one ancestor was even a duke! After that, the line became politicians and businessmen."
"Noble ancestry, to be sure," Lucius said.
"Are you certain?" Kathy asked.
"About research? Mum, it's me, the know-it-all queen of research and I've been working on it all summer," Hermione said. "But that's not the best part, mum, your line made me want to faint."
She scooted another pile in front of her mum.
"Mum, how much do you know about the women of your line?" Hermione asked with a grin.
"Not much, I'm afraid," Kathy said. "I know the McIlvanes are Scotch, and the furthest I can recall being passed down is that my great-grandmother was the wife of a farmer."
"Yes, that much is true," Hermione said, pointing to a spot on the paper. "After cross-checking the Muggle and the British Ministry of Magic genealogy, I can confirm that the grandmother of your great-grandmother was a witch."
The room fell silent.
"Pumpkin, if that were the case, don't you think the knowledge that this person had magical powers would have been passed down?" Kathy said. "That's what, five generations? So you mean to tell me that this woman had-" Kathy said.
"Jillian Campbell-McIlvane," Hermione interrupted.
"How come no one knew until now?" Kathy said.
"Perhaps I can help with that point. In those times, those that claimed magical abilities were seen as a threat, or freaks, so the abilities were probably kept secret," Lucius said.
"That much is true, however, this woman was killed by her Muggle husband's family when she confessed to being a witch," Hermione said.
"So the magic simply skipped five generations of women until you were born?" Kathy asked.
"I have no idea mum," Hermione said. "For all we know, grandma may have been a witch."
Kathy snorted.
"Laugh if you will mum," Hermione said. "You may be able to do magic and just don't know it."
"Pumpkin, don't you think I would have figured that out before now?" Kathy asked.
"If the line after this Campbell woman was never put on the Ministry of Magic register, then no, I'll wager that it never entered any one's mind," Narcissa said. "Especially if no one talked about it."
"With your permission mum, the Ministry can locate the grave of this Campbell woman and do some sort of magical indicator at the grave to confirm if she was a witch or not," Hermione said.
"My permission?" Kathy asked.
"As the only remaining ancestor, your permission is needed," Hermione said. "It will take a while to find, however. There are six possible places where she could have been buried; and that is if she wasn't buried in a private ceremony in a backyard somewhere. Records for the time are unclear."
"Wouldn't it be brilliant to find out if this Campbell witch went to Hogwarts?" Hermione said. She looked wide-eyed at Draco.
"So we're going to Hogwarts in the morning, I take it?" Draco asked.
After breakfast the next morning, Hermione and Draco went to Hogwarts, strolling down the corridors, remembering the good times (and bad) that were had inside the castle walls. They arrived at the gargoyle and waited. It really didn't matter that they didn't know the password; Dumbledore would somehow know that they were there.
They called out as many candy and snack names as they could think of, chuckling at the gargoyle's consternation.
"Ah, entertaining the gargoyle this morning?" was heard from behind.
They turned to see Dumbledore approaching. He smiled warmly at the newlyweds, hugging Hermione and shaking Draco's hand.
"Hermione dear, you look radiant," Albus said.
"And Mr. Malfoy, it appears that marriage and impending fatherhood agrees with you," Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling.
"It certainly does," Draco said, kissing her hand.
"Shall we have some tea in my office?" he ushered Hermione first, then Draco, waving his hand at the large door to his office. Hermione and Draco took seats across from the desk. Draco summoned a small pillow and put it behind her back.
"Now, what brings you here today?"
Hermione took a deep breath, displayed her genealogical research to Dumbledore and waited for his reaction.
"Hmm, curious. And you are certain of this?" he asked, gesturing her pile of work.
"It is intriguing indeed. What do you need of me?"
"I would like to see the Hogwarts class rolls from the late fourteen-hundreds," Hermione said.
Albus chuckled. "That's quite a request."
"Sir, it's really the only way I can be certain," Hermione pleaded.
"You misunderstand me, Hermione. Of course you can see the rolls, finding that particular roll is," he said then stopped. "You'll see. You will also need help, let me summon Severus, it's his free period and he loves a mystery."
"Thank you sir!" Hermione exclaimed.
"My pleasure," Albus said.
He went to the floo and summoned Severus.
"He will meet you in the archives room," Albus said. "But don't say I didn't warn you, you have an arduous task ahead of you."
Minutes later, they found that Dumbledore wasn't joking. Literally, a thousand years worth of school records was piled wall to wall, floor to ceiling.
"Now Mrs. Malfoy, what exactly are you seeking?" Severus asked.
Hermione showed her research to Severus.
"You research looks to be extensive," Severus said. "It will make the task easier."
Two hours later, a sneeze from Severus elicited a "bless you" from Hermione.
"If only," Severus quipped.
"I believe I have found something of use," Draco said.
Hermione hurried to him and watched him carefully open the leather-bound book.
"It appears to be a record of enrolled students, circa 1430," Hermione said.
She skimmed the names of all the years listed and found no Campbell listed. She frowned.
"Never fear, Miss Malfoy, this entire shelf encompasses the fourteen hundreds," Severus said.
Hermione wished she could cast a spell she knew to scan the books, but using charms on the extremely old books might damage them. All three name-hunters took books off the shelf, settling in for a long day.
At three in the afternoon, they heard Hermione gasp.
"L-look!" she squealed and pointed. "I found it!"
"Miss Jillian Campbell, of her sixth year, in the year…" was seen.
"Damn! I can't make out the column that lists her house, and this stupid book has no year listed," Hermione growled.
"Calm down pretty one, we can just look in the next book," Draco assured her.
Hormones! Draco thought. From the smirk on his face, Severus was thinking the same thing.
Severus carefully took the next book off the shelf and gingerly turned the pages.
"Ah, here we are, seventh years," he said.
He followed the lines with his finger, narrowed his eyes at an entry and chuckled.
"This might be of interest to you," he said, handing the book to Hermione.
"Miss Gillian Campbell, Head Girl, of her seventh year, of House Slytherin, 1497," she said then stopped. "Oh good lord," she muttered. "Wait a minute! If she was Head Girl, her bio would be in Hogwarts, A History!" Hermione said.
"Her Head Girl portrait would be in the Head students' corridor as well," Severus added.
Hermione was biting her lip then nodded. "Library first."
She wanted to run to the library. She quickly waved at Madam Pince and headed straight for the historical section. She scanned the shelves for any edition of Hogwarts, A History beyond 1497 and took the first one she came to off the shelf.
Flipping to "Notable Students" she skimmed until she found "Campbell, Jillian" and sat down to read. Draco and Severus joined her. Hermione read the entry out loud.
Jillian Patricia Campbell- Slytherin House
Native of Glasgow, Scotland.
Father- Henry Campbell IV, Slytherin (pureblood)
Mother- Anna Potter, Gryffindor (pureblood)
Head Girl status for the 1497-98 term.
Miss Campbell was noted for having the highest marks in Divination from the previous 32 years upon leaving Hogwarts. Miss Campbell was betrothed to the noted Parkinson heir, Robert, of Slytherin, in what was to be a highly anticipated marriage between two of the oldest and most powerful pureblood families. For unknown reasons, the betrothal was voided upon her leaving Hogwarts, and Miss Campbell wed a Muggle farmer, Angus McIlvane a year later. In 1504, after giving birth to two girls, Jillian McIlvane nee Campbell, aged 24, was murdered by the family of her husband when she confessed to witchcraft. Fearing the death of his two daughters, Angus McIlvane fled Glasgow with the two girls. Nothing more is known of this sad story, and to this day the fate of the two daughters remains a mystery.
For more, see the book Scottish Witch Hunts of the 1500's by Anthony Smythe.
Hermione let the book fall to the table with a quiet thump. They let her contemplate what she had read for a minute. Admittedly, they were surprised too.
"Draco, hand me a parchment please?" Hermione said. "I have to copy this."
She was quiet as she charmed a section of the book to copy to the parchment.
"I don't know whether to be amused or horrified, or both," Hermione said a few minutes later.
"Well, if Potter was possibly a distant relation of mine, I would be horrified as well," Severus said.
Draco laughed and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I need to confirm something before I break the news to Harry that we might be distant cousins," Hermione said.
She went to a shelf, picked Noted Wizard Family Histories, L-S and took it to the table. She flipped to the "P", read then nodded.
"Yep, Anna Potter married Henry Campbell IV and had a daughter, Jillian. There are no more females listed after her on the chart," Hermione said.
She found Harry's name at the bottom of the Potter page and traced his line until she came to Jacob N. Potter, brother of Anna Campbell nee Potter.
"So Potter is your distant, although very distant, cousin," Draco said.
"Many of the oldest wizarding families are intertwined in this manner," Severus said.
"Do you want to see the "W" book?" Draco teased.
"Oh please no, I've had enough for one day," Hermione said, rubbing her temples.
On the way to the corridor where the Head Student's portraits were found, the three were joined by Albus. Hermione handed him the copy of the article from the book.
"Take care of what you say. The spirit of the portrait will only have the knowledge of herself up until the time the portrait was commissioned," he said.
"We understand," Hermione said.
"Now, let's say hello to your great-great-great grandmother," Albus chuckled and they stepped into the corridor. In front of the Head Student's common room, Hermione groaned.
"There are hundreds of them! How are we supposed to find her?" she asked.
Albus stepped forward, cleared his throat and announced, "Will Miss Jillian Campbell please make her presence known?"
"Ahem, how may I help you, Headmaster?" was heard from behind them.
The group turned around, and directly across the hallway a pretty young woman in a portrait did a curtsey for the group. Hermione slowly stepped forward, drawn to the portrait. She drew closer, and noticed that she and the woman in the portrait had the same eyes.
The same nose too! Hermione thought.
"Miss, I don't mean to scold, but m'mum always said that it was uncomely to stare," Jillian said.
Hermione turned her head around to beckon Draco closer.
"I apologize," Hermione said. "You are Miss Jillian Campbell?"
"I am, and you are Miss Hermione Granger, Head Girl from the previous term, and a Gryffindor?" she smirked. "Don't be so surprised miss, I saw you everyday a dozen times a day."
"She's right," Draco commented.
"And you must be a Malfoy, I can tell from the hair," Jillian said, nodding to Draco.
"Yes, he's my husband, Draco," Hermione said.
"Please forgive my forwardness miss, but you seem familiar to me, in a way," Jillian said. "We have similar eyes."
Hermione turned around again and asked Albus, "How much can I say?"
"As little or as much you feel necessary," Albus said.
"Very well," Hermione said. She faced Jillian again. "You miss, are apparently my great-great-great grandmother."