She got the letter from Hogwarts telling her what she would need for school, along with everything she would need to know about getting there. The bubble of excitement that had been fluttering around in her stomach turned to dread and lead.
With a lump in her throat, she walked around Diagon Alley, buying all the things she would need for school.
The feeling had sort of crept up on her, and she couldn't explain it, not really. But there it was tormenting her day which should be somewhat joyous as it marked the beginning of a life outside the shadows.
Truth was, she was scared what it might entail, what might happen if she inadvertently did something that changed the future.
What if she changed someone by becoming their friend?
What if she accidentally revealed something that hasn't happened yet?
What if something she did ended up having a ripple effect, changing one thing that led into another and another, until finally there was a huge change in the timeline that was pivotal to the light side winning?
What if her actions, however, small or trivial, ended up killing or hurting someone she loved?
What if James Potter fell in love with her?
That ridiculous thought had her snort in amusement. Then she laughed a bit more, and before she knew it, she was doubled over, laughing at such a ludicrous thought.
That is one thing I can be assured will not happen. The epic love story of James and Lily was fixed in time, not something little old Hermione could ever come between. Only an epic love like theirs could create such a powerful magical person as Harry, her best friend.
She shook her head, her heart a little lighter as she continued on with her shopping.
A small part of her wondered what using these coins would do, did the goblins count them as forgeries since they were double in production? It wasn't like she had duplicated them with magic, and the magical community didn't have stuff like serial numbers on their coins. Keeping her mind occupied with the thought of confused goblins looking at the coins had her distracted from the darker thoughts she had been troubled with.
It didn't mean the nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach stopped, it might have even increased. She was just getting better at distracting herself from the implications of her actions.
In her readings, she had come across the "butterfly effect" stating that something as simple as the flutter of a butterfly's wings could end up causing a tornado on the other side of the earth. This had been related to theories on time travel, which were all speculations in the muggle world. In the magical realm, there had been some disconcerting research published. She didn't want to linger on it, but it basically said that outside of time turners it was a horrible idea that could in no way end well.
Her purchases were aimed halfway at the curriculum, and the other (much larger and not exactly) half was what she could or would need for the upcoming year. Some of that were trivial stuff, like clothes to make her fit in (she opted for wizarding robes, uncomfortable with muggle fashion in the late 70s) while different stuff was ingredients for potions in case she got hurt, or for polyjuice potion (it did have a habit of coming in handy). Buying books were half of her expenses, which was to be expected when she had a huge pouch filled with money, and every intention of burying herself in said books instead of making acquaintances.
At the end of the day, she hesitated for a moment in going out into the woods again. It would be nice to sleep somewhere civil for one night. But then she decided against it, one more night of sleeping where memories of Harry and Ron surrounded her was nice. Even if the next day, she was going to Hogwarts which was filled with memories of all of her friends.
The woods were freeing, she didn't have to pretend she belonged, she could just be. Much like if she was immersed in a book, the mask she had crafted for herself when she was so young didn't fall into place. The only other time she could just be herself was with Harry and Ron, as they could with her.
1st of September and she walked onto the crowded platforms of Kings Cross, crossing her fingers and clutching her bag. She had traded her tiny beaded bag out for a more contemporary bag, a leather satchel that matched the trunk she was dragging behind her. She finally found a cart to put her, or rather Harry's old, trunk on, and breathed easy. When she was nearing the entry between muggle and magical world, she noticed the curious, and often sneering looks directed at her from other wizards and witches.
Knowing no one wasn't easy, especially when you're a 7th year.
Instead of lingering on the platform and feel sorry for herself, she levitated her trunk with her onto the express, still with 15 minutes to go before the train left promptly at 11 o clock.
She found an empty compartment and settled down with a book. Losing herself in it, she relaxed again, clutching her satchel closer. It felt unfamiliar to her, and she once again went over her reasoning for not staying with her beaded bag.
Her charms on the bag had started wearing thin, but she could always cast them again. The bag wasn't contemporary, but then nothing ever really was in the wizarding world, at least not in her opinion. It was a painful reminder of her past, but it was also a tangible link, something that kept her grounded and left her feeling safe.
In the end, she had opted for the leather bag simply because it fit her books without people questioning it. Therefore, she could easily carry it with her everywhere, making it easy for her to bolt if needed. Her beaded bag was tiny enough that she could hide it in most of her robes, but it was also too big to not be noticeable so it wasn't as convenient.
She had charmed the satchel with more spells than she had on the other one. The most important one being two compartments, one if anybody else went looking that just had her school books, and the other one that was only accessible to her, which held everything her beaded bag had done before, including the bag in question, she didn't have the heart to part with it.
One hand held the book open, her eyes flittering over the page as the fingers of her other hand released the tight hold on her bag. Instead, she took up absentmindedly letting her fingers skim along the leather, feeling the texture under her fingertips. She was sitting with her feet up on the seat so she could rest her back on the window, and have the book propped up against her knees. This also meant she had a perfect view of the compartment door without having to do anything but look slightly over the top of her book.
Curiosity seemed to get the better of her, and she kept glancing up at the book whenever anybody would pass her door. Many returned her curious gaze while some looked at her with malice, she guessed they were purebloods she would have to avoid in the future.
A few compartments down Evan Rosier sat with the rest of his classmates from Slytherin. The four other boys were caught up in discussing what they had been doing that summer. All of them trying to top the others in some way or the other. Evan was busier staring out the window, looking at the passing greenery and contemplating life and friends. He was all rather bored with them, at times he wished he had been placed in Gryffindor. Not because of the bravery, but for the sheer recklessness that some of them showed. It would be fun to see up close how idiotic they could be. Being a Gryffindor would have provided him with hours of entertainment.
As Severus delivered one of his sarcastic remarks at something Mulciber had said, he couldn't help but smirk while the other two boys laughed. Being with like minded people might not be as bad as he sometimes made it out to be, it certainly had the perk of not acting all saintly, like that Potter kid Snape hated so much did all the time.
When they mentioned the girl sitting a few compartments down, he suddenly paid attention.
"What girl?"
"No one knows. Must be a Mudblood from the way she dresses, appalling taste." Yaxley drawled. Evan had his doubts about Yaxley's unhealthy obsession with clothes. Yaxley, of course, attributed it to his pureblood upbringing, but none of the other boys cared beyond wearing what their mother bought them.
"Should be fun to mess with," Avery said with that creepy glint in his eyes, Rosier didn't care to comment, knowing some of his sadistic tendencies. Snape narrowed his eyes a little at the word Mudblood, which Evan couldn't help but notice.
"Anything to say there Snape?" their eyes met, unblinking and harsh "As I recall you don't have a problem yelling it out for the whole school to hear."
He could see the bristling anger behind Snape's eyes, he loved it when they were easy to bait. It was the reason he let Snape linger around him when he wanted protection from Gryffindors. After a fight against said Gryffindors years previously, where wands had been forgotten and Evan had shown exactly why he was so respected in Slytherin, the Gryffindors laid low when he was around. Snape had still tried to bait them but stopped when he discovered Evan could just as easily walk away and leave him to the wolves as he was to protect him against the Marauders. Evan did whatever took his fancy at the time. Now Snape kept walking the fine line between being fun to tease, and annoying to protect. Which was why he never stood up to Evan when he harassed him.
"What was that Mudbloods name again?" he broke eye contact with Snape to look at Avery who bore a cruel smirk. "Do you remember Avery?"
"Lily Evans I believe." he said in his usual dark threatening voice "A tasty Mudblood that one."
Rosier noticed Snape's clenched fist as he tried to control himself.
"Not too bad with clothes either" Yaxley commented thoughtfully.
Evan rolled his eyes and looked out of the window, sensing they were done with the fun for today. "Try not to be so obvious Yaxley, or you're going to have to start dating again to get your dad off your back."
He groaned "don't remind me. I still can't get that Brown chick to stay away."
"Serves you right for dating her," Avery commented.
"She was the only one desperate enough I believe." Snape offered, looking fearfully at Evan who paid them no mind, afraid that he might start up on the subject of Lily again.
"At least, he can get a date," Mulciber said to Snape, to everyone's surprise. It was rare for the guy to come with such stinging remarks. Evan laughed, easing the tension in the compartment.
He looked away from the window again. "So the new Mudblood?"
"She seems boring," Mulciber said.
"How so?"
"She's reading a book," Yaxley said, trying to hide his laugh. Mulciber was well known for his aversion to books. Someone had said that he might actually catch on fire if he ventured into the library like muggles believed witches and wizards would do if they entered a church.
"Any actual information about her?" he tried.
"She didn't have any troubles finding or getting on the platform. She doesn't seem to know anybody and only brought a simple looking trunk and that satchel she clutches tightly." Avery said.
"So nothing really?" Avery shrugged in response, so Evan tuned out of the conversation again.
He was lost in thought, mostly trivial stuff, but found it often returned to the mysterious girl he had yet to see. Fresh blood was always fun, even if just for the sake of figuring out the mystery of who she was. The entertainment might only last for a few days, but it was something before classes started up.
He was broken from his thoughts much later when the boys stood to change into their robes. He stood up and did the same, hoping to maybe get a glimpse of the mystery girl.
Walking up to the carriages he heard the big Oaf yell out for the firsties and a "Miss Granger." a name was a start, but he didn't get a glimpse of her. And he wasn't about to actually make an effort to see a mysterious, potentially boring, Mudblood.
It wasn't until after the Hat had sung his ridiculous song he caught sight of her for the first time. As she turned around and sat on the stool his drink caught and he spluttered. He quickly got control of himself again and glared at his peers to make them shut up.
This wasn't the first time he had seen her, it was her, the Mudblood he had caught sight of last Christmas at Malfoy's Manor. Seemed like this Mudblood had potential to be entertaining for a long time.
The secret of how she had gotten into Malfoy Manor was one thing, but why was she there? Where had she been between then and now, and what had happened to Dolohov? Nobody had seen him again after that night.
The hat yelled out "Gryffindor!", and she took it off with a smile to the roaring applause from her house.
The second the hat moved above her eyes, she locked eyes with Evan, and the smile fell from her face. She stopped the rise from the stool for a second, her mouth opening in surprise. He smirked back at her, glad she recognized him from so long ago. The moment seemed to be suspended in time, as the two obvious enemies realized exactly how the game had changed. Miss Granger might have had the upper hand at Malfoy Manor when she caught him by surprise. But here was Rosier's home turf, he had that advantage, and her noble Gryffindor housemates might not be as welcoming if they heard a few of the things Evan had to say about their little encounter. Evan relished in the feeling of already having leverage over the new girl, ready for the game to start.
She shook her head, breaking their intense eye contact, plastering on an obviously fake smile before she moved to the Gryffindor table.
"I call dibs on the new Mudblood boys," he said, eyes never leaving her form. None of the boys dared question him, Snape looked over to the girl in question feeling sorry for her. She had no idea what kind of trouble she had just landed herself in.
Authors Note: Sorry for the long wait. I've written a lot of stuff lately but for later chapters (have started 4 other chapters before I started this one...)
Thanks for the follows and favs, and of course for the lovely reviews; AliceEnchanted, purple breeze, and kmb3 (Longer chapter as requested). Keep up the love, and know that all of it, but especially reviews spur me on and make me post new chapters faster.
A lot of the stuff mentioned in this chapter will turn up later, and finally, we see a bit more of Rosier! Even got his POV and Hermione is at Hogwarts! This story is probably my priority now as I want to start a Fremione story (which is mapped out in my head) and I promised myself not to start it until I finished this one.
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