What If- Draco & Hermione
Author's Note: this idea came to me quite randomly in the middle of the night. As all good ideas do! I read somewhere that Lucius Malfoy would have preferred for Draco to attend Durmstrang, as opposed to Hogwarts, but Narcissa put her foot down. And it got me thinking...
What would that change about Hermione's years of schooling? Especially the early years, without Draco calling her a mud blood. Would she study as hard, without the pressured desire to prove herself worthy? Would she still be bullied, just by someone else?
What would change regarding the Battle of Hogwarts? Surely without Draco there to repair the Vanishing Cabinet, the Death Eaters would not have been able to get through. So who would repair it? Or would another way in have to be found? OR, would the battle take place somewhere else entirely? Or...not at all.
Anyway, this is my attempt to decode a few of the what if's. Mostly, what if Draco attended Durmstrang? And What if the first time he and Hermione meet, he has no idea she is muggle-born? And what if they fall in love in the midst of racial bigotry, impending war...and what if, it all started with the TriWizard Tournament?
p.s. I also kinda had a 'what if ' thought revolving around what would change in the story if Hermione had been sorted into Ravenclaw. And I kinda thought of throwing that little twist into this story as well, but I didn't want to write about dead Harry Potter. Cuz let's be honest. Without Hermione, Harry wouldn't have made it to his second year.
Happy Reading!
Chapter One- The TriWizard Tournament
The Durmstrang ship rose up from the depths of the water and settled with a crash to float on the surface. The magical forcefield that had surrounded the ship during the time it was submerged faded away. Just in time for the spray from the landing to soak the furs of the male students who stood on deck. The men shook the water off, retrieving their wands to perform personal drying and warming spells. As Draco Malfoy slid his own wand back into his boot and righted the heavy long coat back over his shoulders. His gaze fell on the impressive castle before him, and he did not even bother trying to hide his awe.
Hogwarts, the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry would be his home, and the home of his brothers for the duration of the TriWizard Tournament this year. His eyes; grey and wispy like summer storm clouds, moved from peak to tower, brick to cobblestone as he inspected the castle. He recalled with curiosity his mother saying that she had wished he would have attended this school. As opposed to Durmstrang. Lucius Malfoy of course got, what Lucius Malfoy wanted. It was no secret that Draco's father preferred one school's ideals over the other. It was even less of a secret that Draco himself was being raised into the next great Death Eater.
Who better to help mold the young man from and innocent eleven -now fourteen- year old, then Igor Karkaroff, himself? Draco's eyes flicked to his Headmaster, a chill running down his spine as if it were the first time he was seeing him. It wasn't. The same chill always ran down his spine whenever he was in Igor's presence. And that had seemed to be quite often lately, even during the previous summer, Draco had noticed him coming and going from Malfoy Manor. He and Lucius would always steal away to a room far in the house, lock the door and talk for hours. About what exactly, Draco had no idea. No spell of his was strong enough yet to penetrate the superior Muffilato charm the men cast.
Draco was not trusted enough just yet, to be let into the full details of what was happening within his family and his fathers… transactions, but he knew that it wasn't good. He had tried asking his mother about it for years, but she was always tight lipped with fearful eyes. She would caress his face, her expression forlorn and apologetic before she would dismiss herself from the room. He knew it was to cry, or sometimes he could hear her screaming at Lucius before the older wizard could throw up a silencing charm.
He shuddered at the thought of what happened in the rooms around his home he was not permitted into. Of what went on behind closed, quiet and locked doors. Whatever the other students thought of him, thought of his father, Draco knew it was much worse than any of them could imagine. Usually beginning a new year was a welcome time for Draco. Despite the continued exposure to the Dark Arts and being surrounded by like-minded people to his father, Draco longed for September. Anything that would get him away from the Manor. Away from the sharp sting of his father's hand and tongue. The only thing he regretted about attending school so far from home, was that he could not protect his mother.
As the ship docked, and the Durmstrang students began preparing themselves to step ashore, Draco peered up at the castle once more. The sun was hidden behind a tall steeple, illuminating the outline. How different, he wondered, would his life have been if his mother had gotten her way and he had been allowed to attend Hogwarts? Sadly, he would never truly know. But he was here now, and he was going to enjoy it. Even if there were those retched mudbloods walking around.
Hermione shook her head, eyes rolling as she looked away from the dancing Beauxbaton girls. They settled to the sides of the room, their Headmistresses, greeting a now very small looking Dumbledore. To Hermione's comfort, Ginny sat at her side looking as equally unimpressed and confused as to why all the men- Harry and Ron included- were leaping from their seats and cheering. The performance really hadn't been all that amazing. Finally, Dumbledore held up his hands for silence and the crowd obliged, although begrudgingly. Hermione noticed Ron's neck nearly break as he stretched to look over at the prettiest of all the girls.
Dumbledore spoke. "And now our friends from the north. Please greet the proud sons of Durmstrang. And their High Master, Igor Karkaroff."
Everyone's heads spun in response as loud, almost hypnotic chanting began from the open doors of the Great Hall. Staffs banged against the stone floor, the strength from the young men holding them, reverberating through the ground. They spun the staffs, magic spewing around them. Sparks shot off from the ground as the thundering drums beat in her chest.
"Blimey hell." Ron said, a little too loudly. "It's Viktor Krum!"
Hermione's wide eyes focused in on the Bulgarian Seeker. Even as one Durmstrang student blew a large fire bird, all Hermione could see was the tall, broody and dark Quidditch player. She hadn't failed to notice the attractiveness of the other boys either, though they all appeared much too old. Her eyes shot to Ron who was now practically having an anxiety attack, unsure if he should be drooling over Viktor, or over the girls from Beauxbatons. Of course, he would have eyes in the room for literally everyone else, but her.
The following day, the Hogwarts students spent most of their day getting acquainted with the new, foreign students. International Magical Cooperation. Draco sighed, leaning against one of the stone archways and watching the students batting eyes at each other. What a waste of bloody time this was. At first, he had been excited to get away, to have the distraction of the TriWizard Tournament. But after the alarmingly detailed Howler from his father this morning, he felt anxious. And when Draco felt anxious, he often acted like an asshole. He knew this, and anyone who knew him, also knew this. His parents- specifically Lucius had taken it upon himself to remind his son that despite being on a special trip and away from his usual study schedule, that he was not to be wasting any time. Study, study, study.
Draco shook his head. He glanced to his right, wondering where this school kept their library. He spotted a professor with green robes and a tall black hat. As she passed him she tipped her head in his direction, her kind eyes glinting over her small spectacles.
"Mr. Malfoy?"
Draco stood straight and righted his blazer. "Uh…uh…yes?" He cleared his throat.
He had not expected to be recognized here. Not this early anyway, but he supposed if anyone was going to identify him, it was most likely going to be a teacher.
"Welcome to Hogwarts." The professor gave a small smile. "I am Professor McGonagall. I taught your mother and father when they attended here. Your hair, very much like your fathers. Almost unmistakable."
Self-consciously, Draco ran his long fingers through the uncharacteristically long length of blonde hair atop his head. "Yes, it was this or black like my mother's I suppose." He said, unsure really of what else to say.
"Hmm." Minerva swept her eyes over the boy. He looked sad. "Don't you want to mingle with the other students?" she asked.
"Well, I was actually about to search for a place to study." He admitted, though to a professor this was the least embarrassing thing he could have said.
Still, Minerva looked like she didn't quite believe him. "The library is just up those stairs and to the left. I am sure you will find it very empty and quiet on a day like today."
"Thank you very much, Professor." Draco bowed slightly out of respect, an old habit from his pureblood upbringing. He took off in the direction of the staircase before anymore words could be exchanged.
He found the library with minimal trouble, even though the moving staircase had tried to confuse him twice. Here at least he could be alone. Classes for the Hogwarts students didn't officially start for three more days. And with the excitement from the temporary students arriving, Draco doubted anyone else would be in there. He was, quite wrong. For not a moment after turning down a row of shelves, he pumped straight into someone. Or rather, someone holding a leaning tower of books.
"Oh, bother." A feminine voice said.
Draco was unable to make out her face as she ducked down and began collecting the books back into a pile. He knelt down beside her, doing his best to help. "I am very sorry. I didn't hear you."
"That's alright." Said the girl, her face still mostly hidden behind a rather impressive mane of curly chocolate hair. "I know I shouldn't carry so many books, but I didn't think anyone else would be in here. Normally Madame Pince leaves a cart out for me, but the library isn't officially open yet so they are locked in a closet in the back I believe."
She was rambling, but Draco didn't mind. When the last book was stacked, he helped her lift it up. She perched her chin onto the top one. "Thank you for help by the way." She eyed his attire, suddenly realizing he was not a Hogwarts student. "Oh excuse me. How rude of me not to introduce myself. I am Hermione Granger."
Draco heard her name, but just barely. He shook his head, trying to muddle his way out through the fuzz in his brain. She had the most gorgeous caramel colored eyes he had ever seen. And her smile was sweeter and warmer that hot cross buns. "Draco." He grinned at her in return. "Draco Malfoy."