An article and the fallout.
"There you go, my dear. As good as new. Now give me a smile and let me see those pretty white teeth." Madam Pomfrey said gently as she lowered her wand after shrinking Hermione's front teeth down from the size of a prehistoric beaver to that of what a young fifteen-year-old girl would be proud of.
Hermione, still shaken and a bit choked up on tears, smiled tremulously. She knew she must look a fright, her eyes swollen and red-rimmed from crying. Her sinuses clogged and nose dripping.
"Beautiful, Miss Granger. Now I think you should go straight to your dorm and get some rest. I'll have a house-elf deliver you some supper in a bit. By tomorrow no one will remember what occurred today, I promise you," Madam Pomfrey said, guiding her young charge out of the infirmary.
"T-thank you, Madam," Hermione said, her breath still hitching slightly from crying. "But I think I can still make dinner in the Great Hall. No need for-"
"Tish-tosh, Miss Granger. You're under my care and what I say goes. You're to go directly to your dorm, take a bath and relax. You'll have supper waiting for you once you're done and you're to get a full night's sleep. Along with your supper, will be a mild sleeping draught, I want you to take it. I have ways of finding out if you don't," Pomfrey said gently, but with an edge of steel in her voice.
"Yes, Madam," Hermione said chastened. In some ways, she was glad to have an excuse to avoid the Great Hall. Who knows what sort of rumour was circulating by now. But she also wanted to find out what happened to cause whatever hex to be thrown in the first place. She'd been so absorbed in reading the letter from her grandfather, that she hadn't paid any attention to her surroundings. She learned never to let that happen again. She was also worried about what happened to her letter. She prayed to the Gods that no one had found it or worse yet read it. She hoped that if it had been picked up, whoever did would think it rubbish and just throw it away.
"Now off with you, child. If you experience any pain or anything out of the ordinary, come directly to me, you hear?"
"Yes, Madam," Hermione said again and bobbed a quick curtsy toward the matron before turning to make her way out of the infirmary.
Hermione hadn't taken a step out of the infirmary when she was accosted again. She tensed when a heavy hand landed on her shoulder and looked up in fright. She sighed in relief to see that it was Kai.
"Hey, Mia. I see you're all fixed up. Are you going to the Great Hall?"
"No," Hermione sighed, "I've been ordered by Madam Pomfrey to go straight to my dorm, have a bath and relax. She told me she's having my supper sent to me along with a sleeping draught."
"Probably for the best," Kai said thinking.
"Kai? Can you tell me what happened? I was so absorbed in reading something that I have no idea how this all occurred. All I really remember is being hit by some spell and then pain as my teeth began to grow. I remember you carrying me here and crying. Can you tell me anything?"
"Ah, Mia. I would love to, but since you're under orders to relax I feel that anything I am to tell you would prevent such from happening. But-" he paused when he saw Hermione about to interrupt him. He placed his finger on her lips and shushed her. "I promise, tomorrow after you've had a chance to rest and recover, I'll tell you everything that I know. Agreed?"
Hermione knew that she wouldn't be able to talk Kai around to telling her what'd happened, and she also knew if she were to ask anyone else it would be a story blown out of proportion. She sighed and resigned herself to wait.
"Okay, Kai. I'll hold you to that promise."
"Good, now I'm going to walk you to your dorm and make sure that you follow the Matron's orders, yeah?"
"Yes."
They walked on to the portrait of the fat lady in silence. Hermione due to stress and the desire for quiet. Kai, because he was still seething at what had befallen his cousin. He made a mental note to corner Draco and find out exactly what he was up to and why he'd been so careless. Once they reached the fat lady and before Hermione said the password to be let in, Kai turned her toward him again.
"Remember, Mia. Rest up and I'll tell you everything I know tomorrow, okay?" he then leaned down and placed a tender kiss on her forehead before turning briskly and walking down the stairs to the dungeon and Slytherin common room. He had some questions to ask.
Draco and Theo were both walking back from the Great Hall after dinner. They hadn't discussed what they read in the letter; fearing being overheard. But both knew they needed to talk and try to figure some things out.
They just turned the corner to get to the Slytherin common room when a shadow detached itself from the gloom and loomed over both young men.
"We have something to talk about, cousin," hissed an irate Kai. He was quick to separate Draco from Theo and tried to march him back down the corridor, all the while hissing, "How could you be so reckless? Do you have any idea the damage you could've caused? You're old enough to know not to throw spells around willy-nilly."
Draco, shocked at the vehemence in Kai's voice, went along with him. They hadn't gone far when Draco wrenched his arm away and growled, "How can I be so careless? How could you not tell me I have a long-lost cousin, one I thought was a Mudblood for the last three, almost four years?"
Kai froze at his words. How could Draco have found out? Surely, Hermione wouldn't have said anything openly? He turned to face Draco and said lowly, "What do you know?"
Draco knowing they were now on even ground said, "I think we need to go somewhere private to talk. Theo will be coming with us, he's involved too," indicating the other person that had been following them at a distance.
Kai surprised that he hadn't noticed they weren't alone, glowered at both young men. His need to protect Mia forefront in his mind, he'd blacked out everything else.
"Fine. I assume you have someplace in mind?"
"Yes, follow us," Draco said and turned back the way they came. He led both Kai and the silent Theo back to the hidden and surprisingly spacious niche behind the tapestry of Salazar Slytherin. Pushing it aside he gestured for them to precede him into the niche.
Once all of them were within the space, Kai looked around and he wasn't happy about the security of their location. While the tapestry might hide them from sight, it didn't stop them from being heard. He took out his wand and blanketed the niche in layers of notice-me-not and silencing spells. What they were about to talk about was on a strict need to know basis.
"Ok, Draco. I have some questions you need to answer, and depending on those answers will determine how badly I pummel you," Kai said once he was satisfied they wouldn't be overheard.
"My, my. It seems you may be under some barbaric influences, cousin. But you seem to forget, I have questions too and I won't resort to physical violence if your answers aren't satisfactory. No, I propose an arrangement. You ask a question and I'll answer it. And then you'll afford me the same. Are we agreed?" Draco said his need for information allowed him to strategize his next move in this game of cat and mouse.
"Fine. But I get to ask the first question." Kai said Draco tipped his head in agreement.
"What spell did you hit Mia with?"
"By 'Mia' I assume you mean Hermione Granger? It was the Densaugeo and I wasn't aiming it at her but at Potter." Draco said.
"Why-" Kai began to ask another question and Draco stopped him.
"No, my turn now. When were you going to tell me that Hermione Granger is your sister?"
Kai looked at Draco incredulously before he began to laugh and laugh hard. He doubled over, clutching his stomach, and wheezed, "Sister?! Are you crazy? No, Mia isn't my sister. She's my first cousin. My father had a twin brother, who for unknown reasons stripped himself of magic and hid away in the Muggle World."
Draco looked at Theo in surprise. They'd had it so wrong. They had just assumed that Granger was some secret sibling, one kept hidden for unknown reasons. It took Kai a while to control his laughter before asking, "How did you come up with the idea that Mia was my sister?"
Draco gestured to Theo and he took out a folded piece of parchment from within his robes and presented it to Kai. He arched an eyebrow, took the paper and unfolded it. He didn't need to read it to recognize the handwriting. It was a letter from his grandfather Gellert. He scanned the letter and saw that it was about Mia being a Life elemental and he felt a cold stone sink into his gut. He looked both Draco and Theo hard in the eye, any remaining humour melting like snow in July and asked, "Did you say anything about the contents of this letter? Was anyone nearby when it was found, did they see you with it?" Kai could feel panic in his core, he just knew that a storm was brewing, and Hermione would be in the centre.
Draco seeing the panic in his cousin's eyes felt dread seep into his bones. "No, Kai. Theo and I were here when we first looked at the letter and talked about it. We only talked about who it was written to and who had written it. Nothing else, I swear. Why don't you want people to know that Granger is a-" Kia was quick to stop him from speaking further.
"I was honouring Mia's wishes that no one be told until she was ready to reveal who she really was. You should take that into consideration. I've seen how you look at her and how you both are skulking about whenever Mia is near," Kai said, looking at both Draco and Theo in a new light. Like a bolt out of the blue, he realized why they would possibly be around and said, "You both have felt her call, haven't you? You feel compelled to be near her and you've seen a strange power manifest when she is near, haven't you? What are you Draco? Fire? Air? Water? And you, Theo?"
"Fire," Draco sighed knowing his secret was out.
"Air," Theo said, speaking for the first time.
Kia scowled and pinched the bridge of his nose as if to stave off a headache, "Well, gentlemen. Let's just hope that what and where you discussed this letter earlier, that the walls didn't have ears."
Hermione yawned and stretched. She felt well rested and was glad that she had followed Madam Pomfrey's orders. After Kai had escorted her to the portrait, she'd gone directly to her dorm, gathered her bathing supplies and lost herself in a bubble bath for almost two hours.
Once she'd emerged, she saw a covered tray and potion phial on her bedside table. Crookshanks was eyeing the silver dome, knowing that there were treats to be had. She'd laughed at him and lifted the lid to reveal a smoked turkey leg and mash, a small green salad and treacle tart. To drink she had a cup of tea and pumpkin juice.
She sat cross-legged on her bed, tray in her lap and shared bits of her turkey with Crooks. Mahira had snatched one of the cherry tomatoes from her salad and flew off. Once she'd finished eating the tray had disappeared and she took the sleeping draught. She knew it was still early, but she wanted to avoid any questions her dorm-mates might have and the best way to do that was to be asleep when they arrived.
She downed the potion and grimaced at the bitter taste, then settled down into her bed and began to read from her Transfiguration textbook. After twenty-odd minutes, she fell asleep and knew no more.
Now, she blinked at the sun coming in through the high turret window. She'd slept later than she thought, but she wasn't worried. She had a free period right after breakfast and planned to spend it in the library, trying to find out more about elementals.
Lazily, Hermione got up and dressed, she noted that the common room was empty as she left to get breakfast. She really didn't think much of it, because it was late. She smiled to herself as she drew near the Great Hall hearing the buzz of conversation, happy she hadn't missed getting something to eat.
She pulled open the door and made her way to the Gryffindor table. She was about halfway to her normal seat when she noticed that the buzzing conversations around her had stopped. She looked up and saw hundreds of eyes looking at her. She even looked to the high table and saw that the teachers present were studying her as if they'd never seen her before. Her eyes flitted to Professor Snape and she had to stifle a gasp at the barely blanketed rage in his black gaze. She quickly broke eye contact and continued to her seat. Feeling self-conscience, she took her seat and in as cheerful a voice as she could manage said, "Morning guys! Did everyone sleep well?"
Silence met her question and she looked across from her to Harry and Ron. Harry's expression was blank, but she could see something flash in his green eyes, hurt or betrayal? She didn't know. Ron was looking at his plate and exhibiting proper table manners for once. Hermione swallowed and asked, "Harry? Is everything alright?"
Not saying a word, Harry slapped down a copy of the morning Prophet and slid it across the table to Hermione. His finger, pointing to a bold article on the front page.
More Scandal at Hogwarts?
By Rita Skeeter
Hello to all my rabid readers! Have I got something to tell you! Hogwarts school seems to be rife with secrets and scandal. Not only is Harry Potter, a mere boy of twelve a Triwizard participant. But it appears that there are dark family secrets about to come to light.
An unnamed source has it on good authority that one of Harry Potter's closest friends is more than she pretends to be. Have you heard of Miss Hermione Granger? Purported Muggle Born witch? No? Neither have I. BUT, I do have a name that you will have heard of, Grindelwald ring any bells? Oh, yes, my readers, it seems that Miss Granger is a bit of a misnomer. She is not only NOT a muggle-born, but is, in fact, Gellert Grindelwald's own granddaughter!
Yes! You read it here first, Gellert Grindelwald, one of the darkest wizards in recent history not only procreated but now has a long-lost granddaughter coming out of the woodwork. What could this mean for the Wizarding World? Does Miss Granger, aka Grindelwald have the same darkness within her? What does this mean for the Boy-Who-Lived? Will he continue to be the guiding light in our world if he associates with known dark wizarding families?
Oh, and that's not the end of it. Even though Miss Granger is an unknown, it seems she may be looking to claw her way out of obscurity. How you ask? By flaunting her woefully inadequate charms. And she may have succeeded too. It appears there is more than one wizard that may be willing to raise her above her station. How many? I'll tell you. It's not just one or two. No, there could be as many as six or possibly more.
How do I know? Well, there was quite a kerfuffle in the dungeon's corridor just yesterday afternoon. It seems Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy were seen brandishing wands. Could both Potter and Mr Malfoy be fighting for her affections? It's not known, but Miss Granger was seen to be near Mr Potter at the time. Could he have been defending her questionable honour? That is also still up for debate. Though it does seem that Miss Granger was struck by an unknown hex. She had just crumpled to the floor when another so-called suitor, or should I say SUITORS came to the rescue, stepping out of the shadow. Msrs Kai Rosier and Viktor Krum.
Mr Rosier was quick to scoop Miss Granger up into his arms. He was directed to take her to the infirmary by Professor Snape, who also was witness to the event, though it can't be proven he has more than an academic interest in Miss Granger. If he does, he would be the fifth potential suitor. Which is quite scandalous by itself.
Harry Potter in a bid to protect his lady love tried to follow Mr Rosier, only to be blocked by the Bulgarian Quidditch star and Triwizard champion Viktor Krum as well as several other Durmstrang classmates.
Why would this shameless jezebel set her cap on so many wizards? Well, it should be obvious, my dear readers, she's hedging her bets. Why try to rely just on her name, when she can also piggy-back on other well established and or famous men?
Me, Myself, and I will keep my eyes and ears open to report any further goings-on in our beloved school.
Hermione felt sick as she finished reading the article. It seems that one of her secrets was out. "Harry? I-" she began only to be cut off.
"How long have you known? Why didn't you tell me, us? How could you keep something like this a secret? I thought we were friends?" Harry hissed; his hand clenched around his goblet of pumpkin juice. His grip so tight, Hermione could see it begin to dent.
"Harry, I meant to tell you. I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out how to tell you and everyone. But every time I tried something would prevent me. Do you have any idea of the pressure I've been under the last eight months?"
"Eight months? You've known for eight months?!" Harry exclaimed, his eyes narrowed with spite and then widened, and he gasped, "Your parents! You were the cause of your parents' accident, weren't you? What happened? Come to find out Mummy or Daddy was the spawn of Grindelwald and you had to keep it quiet, yeah?"
"Harry… That's not at all what-" Hermione tried to reason with him but was cut off once again.
"NO! I don't want to hear your excuses. You need to leave, Hermione. Go sit with the Slytherins. They're all dark wizards and witches, you'll fit right in!" Harry yelled while standing up and slapping his goblet across the table, juice splashing all over Hermione and the cup careening at her face. She didn't have a chance to dodge it, one of the faux gemstones slicing across her forehead, leaving a deep gash.
Hermione cried out in shock and pain, her hand covering the slash trying to stem the blood flow. She staggered out of her seat and backed away from the Gryffindor table. She'd known that keeping this secret would cause trouble. But she never thought her best friend would attack her, not Harry, never Harry.
She stumbled over to the Ravenclaw table and students scrambled out of her way as if she would somehow contaminate them. Blood streamed down her face and into her eyes, blinding her. She looked up and with clouded vision saw the look of dawning horror on Harry's face.
"Oh Gods, 'Mione! I'm sorry!" he tried to race around the table to get to her, but he was waylaid. Professor Snape was standing there with Hermione in his arms, a look of absolute loathing on his face and Harry blanched.
"That is the second time in two days you have been in an altercation that has involved Miss Granger. I'm beginning to think you don't value her friendship," Snape growled. He could feel his magic just below the surface, he wanted to rain destruction down on the head of Hermione's so-called best friend. Bury him up to his neck in soil and let all manner of creatures do what they will with him. But knew he couldn't. He felt Hermione trembling and sobbing in his arms and he clenched his jaw tight.
"Professor, I-I…" Harry stammered.
Severus guided Hermione over to the almost empty bench of the Ravenclaw table and forced her to sit down before he stalked to where Potter was standing, trying to stammer out an excuse. He loomed over the table and grabbed Harry by his tie and hissed in his ear so only he could hear, "Silence, Potter! You'll do well to hope that Miss Granger will forgive your attack upon her person. For if she doesn't, I could very easily kill you myself!" he pushed away from the table, swept Hermione back up into his arms and billowed out of the Great Hall, leaving silence and the bitter tang of fear in the air.