GOLDEN ERA 03 | THE HERMIONE CONUNDRUM

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Nova Aylin Black had always considered herself to be singularly gifted when it came to her intelligence- she has all the meticulousness of her mother as well the sharp, perceptive eye of her father.

When she approached Hermione Granger at breakfast on a busy Monday morning, asking her so publicly to join her family for Christmas, she knew the girl would have little alternative but to accept. After all, Nova had already let slip that she was closely acquainted with her Gryffindor pals. Hermione could hardly be seen snubbing Nova so publicly. Nova knew this, and while she did give her flagrant manipulation a second thought, she couldn't bring herself to feel bad. She had Granger right where she wanted her.

But, Merlin help whoever thought they could manipulate Hermione Granger without consequence. Nova really should have seen this coming. This was the same girl who slapped Draco Malfoy, after all.

"That's very sweet of you," Hermione spoke with impeccable cadence to match her appropriately humble and flattered tone. But sitting directly across from her, Nova could clearly see the suspicion in her critical gaze as the third-year muggleborne attempted to dissected her intentions. It was the very gaze that reminded Nova of her mother in the first place. "But my family's expecting me home these holidays."

Nova was completely baffled, watching wordlessly as Hermione calmly packed up her belongings.

"I need to head to the library," she offered as a departing excuse.

Where had she gone wrong? She thought she could read Hermione Granger like a book- an isolated witch surrounded by the fanfare of her own house yet drowning in the middle of it. Nova had anticipated that the witch would eagerly see her invitation as an opportunity to find her own little group or niche. Harry and Ron always had each other. Neville was comfortably floating in and out of various social groups, enjoying the flexibility it afforded him. Ginny and Bryony were attached at the hip, and they always had been. Draco, much like Neville, was a bit of a floater. Nova had hoped Granger would jump at the opportunity. And as much as she hated to admit it, Nova kind of liked Granger. She had just proved, yet again, there was more mettle to her than met the eye.

When the frazzled first year finally caught up to Hermione amidst the maze of shelves in the library, she planted her hands on her hips stubbornly.

"Why not?"

Hermione glanced over, laughing ever so briefly in disbelief. "One, I already said I had plans to spend Christmas with my parents. But more importantly, why should I? I'm sorry, Nova, but you and I aren't exactly friends. We've had one conversation, and I'm pretty sure that was more an excuse for you to size me up and defend your cousin than it was an actual attempt to befriend me."

Nova could offer no excuse. Granger had hit the nail on the head.

"Please?" She tried, molding her features into her most sincere expression. Gryffindors had bleeding hearts, didn't they? Or were those Hufflepuffs?

"Why do you care?" Hermione asked softly.

"You remind me of my mum, actually," Nova admitted, opting for the truth. Seemed like nothing else would work on Granger. "I think you'd like her."

"That's very sweet," Hermione repeated, though this time Nova was certain of the undercurrent of genuine sincerity in her voice. "But wouldn't it be a little inappropriate given I've never met them before and you and I are just acquaintances?"

"Then let's be friends!" Nova said boldly.

Hermione quirked her head curiously, an amused grin pulling at her lips. Who was this little first year? No other underclassmen would have the galls to so casually befriend a third-year they barely knew. Yet, something in her determination made Hermione melt a little. Perhaps it was the echoed loneliness that was carefully hidden behind her ostentatious confidence.

"And of all the people in this school, in your house, and in your year... you want to be friends with me?" Hermione couldn't help but feel she was missing something.

"Well, Draco's a little obsessed with beating you in class, and he's just about the only tolerable Slytherin I know."

Hermione quirked a smile at that.

"Alright-" she acquiesced.

"YES!"

"-We can be friends! But I'm still spending Christmas with my parents."

"Oh, no! What about after Christmas? You could come for the New year!"

"I don't know..."

"We always have a big party for New Year, so you'll be able to see all your Gryffindor friends as well!"

Nova cheered internally at the sudden interest lighting Hermione's eyes. Had the dolts never invited her to spend the holidays with them?

"Really?" Hermione asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Check.

"Absolutely. Harry, Ron, Neville, Ginny, Bryony- the whole gang. It's one of the few times we see our family friends too. It's been so long since we've seen Kingsley and Moody."

"The Minister of Magic and the Head Auror?"

Nova smiled. Checkmate.

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- Black Family Estate

Hermione could feel her nerves skyrocket as her parents dropped her off at the Leaky Cauldron so she could floo to the Blacks' residence. She'd looked for every excuse to beg off, including asking her parents all of seven times whether they were sure they didn't need her around. They'd insisted they'd be fine, encouraging her to go visit her friends. After all, it was the first time Hermione had even mentioned her friends.

An owl from Nova had arrived early that morning with the name of her destination written in a clean script. Celestial Hall.

Who the bloody hell named their home something as ridiculous as Celestial Hall?

When she stepped into the green flames and emerged from the other side, her dubious judgment went immediately down the drain only to be replaced by sheer awe. She'd stepped into a humble but clean fireplace at the Leaky and walked out into a museum. The large fireplace led out to an open room with high ceilings, beautifully carved stone, and ornate marble. But the first thing to catch Hermione's eye was when she looked up at the ceiling. While accented by immaculate crown molding, the showstopper was the bewitched canvas of all the sky's constellations. Now it made sense why it might be called Celestial Hall. Did someone truly live here? It looked like a historical attraction.

"Granger! You're here!"

Pure relief flooded Hermione. At least she had the right place.

"Nova. Beautiful home here."

"Thanks," Nova smiled. "Though I prefer the rest of it. This room is by far the most obnoxious," she admitted completely honestly.

"I can see why it's called Celestial Hall."

"Oh yeah," Nova rolled her eyes. "That's just the formal name of the estate for all the legal documents. Mum and dad just call it Haven."

"Why does it have to be named?" Hermione asked curiously.

Nova shrugged. "It was built after the war. The Black family did not have the best history until it came to my father's generation. We're the last of us who actually carry the name. Anyway, when he and mum were planning to build a new house, his cousins insisted on all the formalities since dad was technically 'the head of house' and 'had a responsibility to his line.'"

"I see," Hermione said, not really seeing at all.

"I can't wait for my parents to meet you!" She said excitedly. "They're in for such a surprise."

Hermione faltered.

"Surprise?" When Nova turned back to her sheepishly, Hermione stuttered in shock. "They do know I'm coming, don't they?"

"Well..."

Hermione recoiled, all her nervousness returning tenfold. "Black, what the bloody blazes do you think you're doing?"

"Granger-"

"I have to leave," Hermione said firmly. "I have to go."

"Hermione-"

"Nova, who are you talking to, love?" A soothing voice called from the other room. Both girls froze in the foyer, hearing the click of footsteps coming closer.

Hermione could do nothing but stand still in sheer mortification as one of the loveliest women she'd ever laid eyes on strolled into the room. Her dark burgundy hair fell down her torso in thick waves, her bright, striking eyes visible clearly even from a distance. The witch, who Hermione assumed was Nova's mother, stopped suddenly when she saw her.

"Hi mum," Nova whispered.

"Hermione," A deeper voice bellowed as a second person approached the room. "Where have you gone?"

Hermione startled upon hearing her name. She thought Nova's parents weren't expecting her? A tall, polished man came in. He looked vaguely familiar, but Hermione was much too busy overthinking to remember where she had seen him before. He too came to an abrupt still when he saw her.

Hermione Black and Sirius were absolutely dumbfounded, staring at Hermione Granger blankly. Hermione Granger was absolutely mortified and shuffled from foot to foot, waiting for Nova to bloody say something. But the eldest Black child was too busy observing the surprise, and dare she day panic, flitting through her parents' eyes.

"Mum, dad... this is Granger. Hermione Granger."

Sirius snapped out of his stupor first. "Miss Granger, you must be Nova's friend. Forgive me, I was surprised. You and my wife share the same name."

"Indeed," Hermione Black whispered.

"How exactly did you get here?" Sirius asked in confusion.

"I- I took the floo," Hermione stammered. "I am so so sorry! I had no idea you weren't aware of my visit. I thought Nova had told you."

"Not at all, my dear," Sirius said smoothly. "Though I believe an explanation is in order, Nova."

Nova winced when Sirius switched to his firm, authoritative voice. Nova called it his auror voice.

"I thought I would surprise you," Nova said innocently.

"Nova Aylin Black!" Sirius thundered uncharacteristically. "You know this house has some of the most advanced wards in all of Britain! How could you just tell someone to floo in without clearing it with me first? Those wards could have seriously hurt her!"

"But they didn't, did they?" Nova pointed out suddenly, her sheepishness fading as vindication took its spot. "In fact, she was able to get in with no problem."

"Must have been a fluke," Sirius said quickly. "But I'm still very disappointed in you. You know better. You could have just asked- we wouldn't have said no. You put Hermione's life in danger for nothing?"

"But I didn't," Nova maintained confidently. "I know the wards are tuned into this family. Even if someone had never been here before, it wouldn't hurt someone connected to this family."

"But Hermione is not related to the Blacks, is she?" Sirius pointed out sternly.

"Isn't she?" Nova's eyes flickered to her mother.

Hermione Granger had just about had enough. She had no idea what was going on, but the more she heard, the more she felt like she was being made a fool of.

"I should go," Hermione said quickly. "I'm so sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Black."

"Remember when I said you reminded me of my mother?" Nova turned to Hermione suddenly. "This is what I meant. You look exactly like her."

Hermione froze and then bristled. "Don't be daft! I look nothing like your mother!" Hermione Black was jaw-droppingly gorgeous. And she was absolutely positive they looked nothing alike.

"Don't be so obvious," Nova snapped at her. "Everyone sees the hair and the color of the eyes. It's the biggest smokescreen. Look deeper."

"Nova, that is enough," Sirius said firmly.

"Did you know dad?" Nova asked curiously. "You don't look so surprised."

"Nova-" Sirius repeated warningly.

"I already know something is fishy," Nova insisted. "And the wards just confirmed it."

"NOVA AYLIN BLACK!" Her father thundered.

At that point, three younger boys came sprinting in, lingering nervously at the doorway even as they peeked into the room. The tension in the room was absolutely suffocating. The poor muggleborne witch had no idea what she'd just walked into. Before she could beg off again, the matriarch of the house finally sighed deeply, shaking her head.

"I swear you're too smart for your own good," Hermione Black told Nova in a fond yet tired tone.

"I know," Nova said smartly.

"It's a long story, but I suppose I would've eventually had to tell you kids at some point."

"I'd hope so," Nova muttered.

"And I'm sorry you have to find out so suddenly, Hermione. I can only imagine what you must be feeling," her mother comforted Granger.

"I'm afraid I still don't understand," Granger whispered helplessly.

Nova was about to open her mouth and explain it to her when her mother said the absolute last thing she would've ever expected. But then again, it made sense. Hermiones had a way of surprising her.

"I am you," Lady Black admitted. "I come from an alternate timeline where I was you and eventually got sent back in time."

Granger's eyes widened, and Nova whirled back to her mother so hard she got whiplash.

"Wait, WHAT?"

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Author's Note:

So these chapters are turning out much more detailed than I initially planned, and honestly, I'm kind of liking it. I originally intended for the Golden Era chapters to be more of a short epilogue series, but it's really on the verge of becoming a multi-chapter sequel/novella. I'll still keep publishing the chapters to this story since you need the context of PTTP to understand it.

Is that something you all would be interested in reading? A multichapter Golden Era story?

Either way, I have the plot outlined to the end of Harry's time at Hogwarts. But I can always shorten the writing and make it less detailed if people aren't interested in a longer, winding depiction of the golden era. But you are interested, by all means, I'll keep to the detailed chapters.

-ADHARYN