Unforeseen
Here's my compensation!
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is rightfully owned by J.K. Rowling.
"Mama, have you seen my other journal?" She asked at the top of her lungs from her room as she piles the necessary things to bring with her for tomorrow while searching for the blasted lost journal of hers.
Because tomorrow will be the day she'll be taking her first step of adventure to Hogwarts.
After what happened during their last-minute shopping the other day, her mother had decided they go home straight away so she could rest and fully recover. This made the boys downhearted with her leaving first.
Hermione was no different either as she too was remarkably sad by the idea of not seeing her friends, but then she perked up when her mother, Emma, proposed to the boys the idea of exchanging letters with her and catch up with each other until they meet again as a whole in King's Cross. Unsurprisingly, they agreed vigorously, especially Sirius.
It was with a frown when Emma and Hermione—including Lyra—saw this reaction. She'd wanted to comfort him by giving him a hug but she couldn't, as she was told by her Aunt Miranda to stay in her wheelchair for the whole day so she could recover fast. Yet the desire to ease his burden is so powerful she felt like crying as she couldn't help the flashes of memories of the man he was, make itself appear in the front of her mind.
Suffice to say, she was glad when he initiated the contact and seem to be okay with the hugging, before parting ways. He left promptly after he shook the boys' hands and gave the ladies each a cheeky kiss on the back of their hands and a playful bow.
What amuses Hermione however—and the thought still makes her face heat up—was how Harry and Draco seem to glare at her way whenever she interacts with Sirius. At first, she was unaware of this as she never saw anything wrong with what Sirius is doing. And Hermione assumed it was some unintended childish jealousy, but immediately turned that idea down.
She and Sirius were merely talking and sometimes cracking up funny jokes. She did, in fact, noticed how he usually stay close to her, like a child who clung to his mother.
Due to this Hermione figured that Sirius' parents rarely give him the affection that he rightfully deserves. It proves how he always remains close to not only her but Miss Lyra too—whom she still hasn't decided if she's going to call her aunt or maybe she should—whenever they got a chance to interact. Sirius evidently yearns to be loved and cared for just how should a mother do to a child.
Just like Aunt Lyra does to Draco.
And judging by the commotion that happened earlier that day, Walburga wasn't that kind of woman. She's undoubtedly not a mother, at all! Poor Sirius…
With these depressing thoughts, adding the tragic memories of the man he was, Hermione had kept a diligent correspondence with him, and the others when she's got a chance. Every time Sirius responds back to her, Hermione's heart will always tug at how animated Sirius is in his letters.
In one of his letters, Hermione was introduced to a boy named Regulus. His precious little brother. The little boy even wrote a shy greeting for her below Sirius' name. It was adorable and Hermione noted the slight difference in their penmanship. Hermione's face painted an ugly scowl at the image of two boys trained to write legibly with their mother monitoring them, waiting for them to make a mistake any moment so she could punish them to do better.
Seriously… What kind of mother does that to a child! It's monstrous and unforgivable.
Hermione had even shared these observations with her mother and both were tempted to send red cursed letters to teach Walburga 'the Banshee' Black how to be a proper mother and Lady.
Sirius as expected laughed at her plan, and according to him, he's incredibly delighted in befriending her and was repeatedly thanking her and the gods above for letting him bump into her little world so they could meet.
It was honestly sweet and amusing, but at the same time slightly saddening. It angered Hermione a lot how his parents were unable to indulge the two brothers by providing love. The lack of affection literally hacks Hermione off and almost wrote it down in one of her replies earlier, before snapping herself out from it.
Just an hour ago, Sirius had sent her another response with Regulus little note added in it. The young boy literally was the most adorable kid she'd ever met. And that's saying something considering she only met him through Sirius' letters and little notes. He appears to cling to Sirius like a baby koala.
And in just two days of exchanging letters with them, Hermione concluded that the Black brothers only have themselves to make up for the lost love they were supposed to receive from their parents.
Their familial love they have for each other is so beautiful and cruel simultaneously, making Hermione vow that she'll take care the both of them. Knowing how vile Walburga is and how their father Orion appears to not care a single strand about them, Hermione will take it upon herself to ensure that the connection between the Black brothers will remain healthy and strong.
The shuffling of her mother's footsteps echoed outside the hall of the room she and Almairah share.
"Must you scream like a banshee?" Her mother remarked with a matching roll of her eyes from the entrance of the room.
Almairah who's helping Hermione fold clothes, snickered quietly. "She's misplaced her other journal mother. Go easy on sister."
"Don't you berate me, young woman," Emma retorted playfully, her lips quirking upwards. Almairah merely raised both of her hands in surrender, while wiggling her fingers, wandlessly organizing Hermione's quills and ink pots in an elongated thin rectangle box.
"Liya!" Emma called as she enters her daughter's room, joining Almairah by the bed in helping Hermione with her things.
Pop! "Yes, mistress?"
"Oh my goodness!" Hermione said to herself exasperatedly, making her laugh breathlessly. "I've forgotten about you Liya, I'm so sorry, I thought you were still having your free day today."
Liya only stared at her. And shrugged. "Liya be understanding, little miss is busy and has many things to do for her travel to Hogwarts! Liya be helping now though." She said eagerly.
"She was quite insistent that we let her get back to her work immediately," Emma said fondly.
Hermione's eyes soften and kneeled in front of their only house-elf. "Would you help me find my leather journal, then Liya? The one that has a tulip engraved at the very center?"
Liya nodded her head as her beautiful violet eyes close, concentrating on locating her lost journal.
Elf magic has always made Hermione curious. At the age of nine, she discovered that in some houses, house-elves were abused and used for dark purposes. Especially the female ones and their babies. Horrified, Hermione had cried on her father's lap while clutching Liya beside her.
Even though Liya looked uncomfortable about the situation she understood her concern and patted her gently throughout her crying affair and accepted her overwhelming hugs.
On the other hand, her father looked a little lost about the situation. Which was kind of funny since he was so great at comforting his daughters every time either of them feels out of sorts.
From then on, Hermione had shown determination in helping other elves that are mistreated and abused. She'd demanded to her parents that she wishes to learn everything there are surrounding house-elves. The texts that she'd acquired were most helpful, but the information she'd found was disheartening.
House-elves could only survive if they are bonded to a magical person or a place that is magically entrenched by ancient magic—like Hogwarts. However, not all house-elves can be bonded with these institutions. Cause even though Hogwarts acts as a sanctuary to those house-elves who don't have masters, the magic breathing in Hogwarts has its limit in accepting and forming bonds with them. Hence not all house-elves are fortunate enough to be chosen and a reform a bond to live.
She also learned that there are only a few house-elves sanctuaries that exist in this world. Five to be exact, and Hogwarts is one of them. Hermione mentally measured the number of probabilities of house-elves currently living in one of these sanctuaries. The results were not good, to say the least.
With no master willing to bond they would perish.
Hermione also found out that only a powerful magical person could bond with multiple house-elves. According to the text, normally, an average magical person can bond with elves at a maximum number of three, whereas the Head of a House—who also carries the burden of their family's magic—could bond with a number of five elves. That's already the maximum, but still, it depends on the scale of their magical ability.
House-elves don't have the capacity to demand such magic from a magical person or establishment as it is against their nature. House-elves are natural servants—Hermione sneered at this statement—therefore they must make an effort in gaining such magical bond from a potential master in doing a lot of menial work or literally any servant stuff, like cleaning. These creatures see this as their purpose; to do their job for the Lady Magic to see that they are deserving of carrying and serving her magic.
So in conclusion, if a person decides to give house-elves clothes freely is considered a crime not only to them but also to magic. Because offering—or really—giving them one would mean that they'd failed serving Her Supremeness.
And once a bond is terminated, house-elves lose their magic and dies eventually if not bonded as soon as possible.
There was no recorded duration of how long could a house-elf live before they pass away. But in the text, the author presumed it depends on how old and how long they've bonded to their masters. The longer they were sustained with magic, the longer they live. However, if the elf is too old and fragile, their magic—regardless of how long they were deeply entrenched with magical bonds—might rapidly expire just to preserve their life force, and could soon die.
With a pop, Hermione's sleek leather-bound mahogany-colored journal appeared beside her.
"Thank you so much for your help, Liya," Hermione said softly. She scooped the journal from the floor, and smiled brilliantly to the also smiling brilliantly elf, "I owe you Liya!"
Liya blushed profusely, making her adorable pointy ears curve shyly. "Oh, miss shouldn't owe Liya anything. Liya is being grateful enough that the Misses and master are happy and caring to Liya."
"Oh yes Liya, how did it go? Your first free day?" Almairah asked from her position in Hermione's bed. She's currently hovering over her opened customized trunk, re-arranging things and adding some more important necessities she should bring.
"Oh miss! I had an amazing day today!" Liya exclaimed clapping excitedly, and promptly sat down on the floor and began chattering about how her day went.
Emma stayed in their room, sometimes shuffling out to the hallway, then coming back with more clothes and some personal hygienes she'd missed. Placing them orderly in her Hogwarts' trunk while she listens to Liya. Hermione on the other hand sat beside Liya. She sometimes cut in and ask questions to the little elf, to which the elf responded with such enthusiasm that made the Granger ladies smile.
Until Liya's story turned slightly melancholy.
"What do you mean there's an elf who wanted to be free?" Emma asked her tone slightly worried. Just like Hermione and Almairah, Emma too feels sympathetic to these poor creatures. She'd once told Hermione that she too had also tried finding a way to help them not be a subject of society's harsh and unfair treatment.
But when she found out that their struggles can't be easily fixed, she'd lost hope.
Hermione had to reassure her mother that there will be a time wherein all house-elves will have personal rights. That's why there's a special division within the ministry about magical creatures, she'd pointed out.
"It was Dobby, mistress," Liya murmured her voice thick with unshed tears. "His masters are not treating him well and Liya couldn't do anything to help him. But Dobby is a strong elf and remains optimistic that he will one day be free and meet someone who will care for him."
Both Almairah and Hermione reached out to Liya and gave her a gentle hug, which made the little elf cry silently.
Hermione sat behind her desk staring at her tulip engraved journal that is being illuminated by the cooling and elegant beam of the moon.
It's already almost midnight and for some reason, Hermione couldn't feel the sleep visiting her.
Maybe she's too excited? Yeah, that's probably it.
A while ago, after they've finished arranging Hermione's things for Hogwarts, Almairah had been inconsolable due to Hermione leaving and the idea of not seeing her older sister for almost a year had her bursting into floods of tears. Hermione then realized the reason why Almairah was so insistent in taking the liberty of preparing her things for tomorrow.
The young girl was finding a reason to busy herself and make sure her favorite sister is taken care of for the last time by her before she moves out.
Hermione, together with her father, soothed her worries with alternatives that might help her spirit lift. The two sisters promised each other to write every day. May it be a small note or a long one. It doesn't matter. They must keep in contact every day.
Despite Hermione pointing out that she might one day or probably a week be busy in school, and could potentially forget sending her a letter, Almairah had stubbornly said that there are no exceptions.
Hermione's amber eyes fluttered rapidly as she was broken from her thoughts by the soft knock behind her.
"Come in," Hermione called softly. She turned around when the door of the room she shares with Almairah opened gently.
"I see," the deep loving voice of her father said. "Can't sleep?"
Hermione smiled at him and shook her head.
Her smile widened more when she noticed her father wearing her mother's favorite soft bunny slippers.
"How did that even fit you, papa?" Hermione giggled quietly.
Daniel grinned and placed one finger on his lips. "Don't tell your mother. And to answer your question, it's simple," he paused. "Magic."
Hermione snorted at her father's antics, giggling as he charmed the two fluffy bunny's ears to flap together.
Ending his charm work, Hermione watched her father take the ottoman near her bed and sat on it, facing her. Hermione simply turned on her chair to the left side and rested her head on her chair's top rail.
The father and daughter observed each other for a moment before Hermione opened her palms in a give-it-to-me gesture.
Daniel sighed, "you know, it's getting weird that you could read me easily so much just like your mother does." He grabbed something from the inside of his night robes' pocket and revealed two letters. "Is your mother teaching you legilemency? Or did you also get that gift from her too?" The two letters were gently placed on her palm as he said this.
Hermione shrugged, "don't blame me, papa. I just know you just as much as you are my father. As for the legilimency, sadly I don't have the gift. I really just have a talent called observing."
She shot her father a smirk when she heard him huff. Her eyes landing on the two envelopes both sealed with two distinct crests of Ancient and Noble Houses.
M with a dragon; P with a lion and eagle.
"Should I worry?" Daniel asked suddenly from his place in the ottoman.
Hermione looked up at her father with a frown, "what do you mean, papa?"
Her father gestured over the letters in her hands, "well, just that those letters came from two boys. And it's already midnight… so…" Her father trailed off.
Hermione's face went hot at what her father meant. Her eyes bulging at the insinuation, "Papa, that's uncalled for! I'm too young for—that!" She exclaimed as quietly as she could.
"And for your information, mama already told me about the… that— that—" Hermione stammered unable to really form coherent words as the conversation with her mother yesterday night makes itself known again in the forefront of her mind.
"You mean the conversation you had with your mother about the legendary Birds and the Bees?" Daniel offered.
"Yes, that! And it's not legendary, its an outrageous story about human reproduction." Hermione declared heatedly. "You both could've just told me about it in a frank manner. You didn't have to dilly-dally around with much useless euphemism just because I'm a kid—"
"Which is true."
"And don't have any idea how babies were made!" Hermione huffed. "We have books papa. I totally understand how it works and definitely aware of its consequences."
Daniel held up both of his hands in surrender, "I'll be honest though, it was quite hilarious to see you try not to react mortified despite the evidence on your face showing that you are terribly so."
Hermione sniffed, "I was merely trying to be very educational about it, papa."
Her father shrugged and stood up with a sigh. "Just…" He trailed off.
"I know, papa. I understand, I really do. And I promise not to do something that most adults or young adults do…" she paused. "But still, I really am genuinely grateful for teaching me about protections. In case.. you know... and about the menstruation thing…"
Daniel grimaced a little at that, "your mother didn't tell me about that part of your conversation. Well, let's just be both grateful that she's taken care of the embarrassing conversations, eh?"
Hermione's lips quirked up, "mama was rather exceedingly detailed with her explanations and demonstrations." Her eyebrow went up to her hairline when her father literally went white at that.
"Are you seriously that disturbed about women's anatomy, father?" Hermione said a little offended and amused.
She saw something flit over her father's pale face and simply waved it off, and quickly pressed a kiss on her forehead, murmuring an apology and a goodnight.
Leaving Hermione in a fit of giggles.
Once her father made it out, Hermione returned her attention to the two unopened letters in her hands. It still remained pristine and immaculate.
Seriously though, why do these two keep sealing her letters with their official crests? She'd repeatedly politely told them that it's no need. And the only reply she received was that it's needed and wanted to practice getting used to it.
Hermione at first got frustrated but in the end, her understanding and respect for their old tradition won out, and simply let them be.
What's most curious though is how both of them sent her letters together, at the same time. And why did they forward these letters to her father, instead of her?
Sliding the journal to the side, Hermione began placing the two envelopes next to each other. Biting her lower lip, she decided to open Harry's first.
*clicked pause*
Hehehe~ *wink wink*
Sorry for that cliff-hanger!
Everyone is so lovely! Thank you so much for reading this once-prompt now fic in the making! You'll have to excuse me for the slow progress as I really want to deliver a good fic for everyone with a wholesome concept I've always imagined.
See you in the next chapter!