Hi everyone,
Before we get into it just a quick note to say that this world and many of the characters in this story belong to J.K. Rowling, but this storyline, Forte di Cuore University, and any other characters are my own.
This begins at the end of the Deathly Hallows, disregarding the epilogue of their future selves.
I really wanted to write a story with enemies to lovers / love triangles, a dark mystery to solve, character growth and gorgeous Italian scenery so here I am giving it my best go!
I hope you enjoy reading this fic as much as I enjoy writing it.
It was difficult not to compare.
If she closed her eyes she could have been on the Hogwarts express, the gentle sway of the carriage and the sound of chugging wheels was so eerily familiar that for a moment she was eleven again.
Hermione had the same feeling of nervous excitement twisting in her stomach now as she had then, but when she opened her eyes she wasn't eleven anymore, and she was on an unfamiliar train travelling over an unfamiliar land.
The view from the carriage window was breathtakingly beautiful, the Italian countryside flying by like a dream.
Sometimes she wondered if she were dreaming. Ever since the war ended, she'd had the unshakeable sensation of being disconnected from reality, as though it couldn't possibly be the truth and the illusion would shatter at any moment. Hermione often woke expecting to find herself back in that tent, on the run, hunting horcruxes.
But it was over, she reminded herself daily. Voldemort was gone, they had won. She was free.
And yet she had found herself unable to move on.
She knew everyone had struggled in the aftermath of the war, Ron had lost his brother, and Harry felt personally responsible for every death. But at least they had been able to mourn and then find comfort in their new purpose of training to become Aurors, in the idea that they would be able to help protect the peace they had all fought so hard for.
Hermione's grief was different, the people she mourned weren't dead so how could she move on? Before she left to help Harry hunt horcruxes, she had obliviated her parents' memories of her. There had always been a risk that they may never be able to recover them, but it had been a price she was willing to pay to protect them. Or so she had thought.
The memories could not be saved. When the ministry informed her of this she had cried for days until she felt like she couldn't possibly have any tears left, until finally all she had was a hollow ache set in her chest.
She couldn't shake it, everywhere she knew held painful memories, either from the war or from a time when her parents had known who she was and loved her.
She had to get away from it.
As soon as news of Harry Potter's victory in the war began to spread Hermione started receiving owls with offers from wizarding universities across the globe who'd heard of the intelligent young witch that helped to defeat the dark lord. She hadn't actually considered going at first, the thought of leaving her friends behind had stopped her from even opening the letters. But as the weeks passed everyone around her began to make plans for the future, whilst she felt suspended in time, unable to move on when she was constantly reminded of all she had lost.
So eventually she read her letters. Before the war she did plan to attend university after all, but since then she had never allowed herself to think much on it in case that future never came. It was surreal to suddenly have so many possibilities laid before her when just months before she had been a fugitive with a price on her head.
Despite not even completing her seventh year, Hermione had received over twenty offers. But as she sat on the floor of Ginny's room at the Burrow with the letters spread around her, there was one that kept drawing her eye. Bearing the exquisitely embossed seal of Forte di Cuore; the most prestigious wizarding university in the world, the letter offered her a full scholarship to study three subjects of her choosing. The thought ignited something inside her that she thought she had lost, a hunger to learn and discover. This was her chance to recover the person she had once been, and for the first time in a long while, she felt hopeful.
Harry and Ron had been more than a little shocked to find out she was leaving for Italy, Ron especially.
"Wow 'Mione that's... amazing, but... it's so far away, we'll hardly ever see you." He spoke lightly but the words and his smile were strained in a way that twisted her heart.
They hadn't talked about the kiss they had shared at the final battle of Hogwarts, it had been fuelled by adrenaline, desperation, and fear that this would be the last opportunity they would have.
She'd imagined her first kiss with Ron ever since fifth year, even pictured the life they might have had together after leaving Hogwarts. But when the battle was done and they all began to look to the future, Hermione wasn't so sure Ron would be hers anymore. So much had changed since she'd had that dream of being together and now they both had people to grieve for, so whatever there had been between them was left unspoken.
But he and Harry were still the closest thing to family she had left, and saying goodbye even if only for a while had hurt.
"I'll write to you both all the time, and I'll come home for the holidays I promise." She told them. They were gathered outside the Burrow as she prepared to leave for the airport, her luggage packed into the boot of the Weasley's car.
"Besides, you'll be so busy with your training you'll barely have time to notice I'm gone." She smiled even as tears welled in her eyes.
The three of them embraced one another tightly.
"You'll be brilliant Hermione, you always are. Don't worry about us." Harry said from somewhere buried in her hair.
She laughed. "I'll always worry about you, try not to get into too much trouble without me."
"No promises." Ron replied with a chuckle, and they pulled apart.
Hermione climbed into the car beside Molly Weasley and it roared into life, then after a moment of rumbling it took off into the dawning sky.
She waved from the window until her two best friends were tiny specks in the distance, and with a nervous thrill it occurred to her that for the first time she wouldn't just be sharing in Harry's adventures, but undertaking one all of her own.
She was broken from her reverie when the door of her train compartment slid open and a girl popped her head through the opening.
"Hey, do you mind if we join you? Someone thought it would be funny to set off a stink bomb in our compartment." She huffed dramatically.
Her voice had a very faint accent Hermione couldn't place.
"No of course come in." Hermione replied, glad for the company to relieve her of her thoughts.
"Thanks." The girl plopped into the seat opposite her. She was deeply tanned with warm eyes and a river of sleek black hair. But despite her polished appearance she seemed to have no inhibitions as she sprawled ungracefully on the bench.
A boy followed her in and slumped into the chair beside her. Twins, Hermione immediately realised. The boy was tall where his sister was short, and his hair had a slight curl where his sister's was unfailingly straight, but he had the same tanned skin, dark eyes, and air of being completely at ease.
She had only met one pair of twins before, and Hermione felt a sharp pang in her heart at the reminder of Fred.
"You don't remember me do you?" The girl asked Hermione suddenly.
Hermione's mind immediately scrambled to remember, and an embarrassed flush spread cross her cheeks as she struggled to think of what to say.
The girl grinned.
"C'était un tournoi spectaculaire non?"
She was French. There was only one time Hermione could think of where their paths may have crossed.
"You were at Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament, you were a Beauxbatons student." She reasoned out loud.
Her grin widened.
"I'm Marianne. We didn't really have a chance to know each other then. It's nice to finally meet you properly Hermione." She offered out a perfectly manicured hand.
Hermione shook it and returned her smile.
"It's nice to meet you as well."
It wasn't a surprise that Marianne remembered her, she just wasn't sure if it was because of her relationship to Harry, or to Viktor Krum.
"This is my brother Leon."
The boy who had been sat appraising her casually now met her eyes and swiftly leaned forward to press a kiss to her knuckles. The gesture was strangely formal but Hermione decided she didn't mind it at all.
"A pleasure." He said with an easy smile.
Hermione's blush deepened.
"I can't believe we're really here, I am so excited!" Marianne exclaimed, drawing Hermione's attention back.
"Oh I hope we have some classes together, what subjects are you studying? I'm doing Divination, Care of Magical Creatures, and Advanced Charms." she continued quickly.
Hermione tried not to roll her eyes at the mention of Divination.
Instead she replied brightly "That's so interesting, I'm doing Advanced Charms too so maybe we'll be able to sit together! I'm taking Arithmancy and Potions too."
Leon's face lit up at this.
"I am also doing Arithmancy, thank goodness finally someone with a little taste." he said.
Marianne made a face.
"I am sorry but Arithmancy is the worst, it makes my brain hurt."
Leon actually did roll his eyes. "Well we wouldn't want you to give yourself an aneurism sister, you'd better stick to the complete nonsense that is Divination."
Hermione burst out laughing at this, and Marianne swatted her brother across the back of the head as he smirked.
"Divination is an art form, just because you don't understand it doesn't make it nonsense!"
"Hermione agrees with me, don't you Hermione?" Leon asked her playfully.
She bit her lip to hide her smile before giving Marianne an apologetic look.
"Sorry." She said earnestly.
"See." Leon leaned back in triumph and Marianne shook her head with mock disappointment.
"Traitor." She accused with what Hermione was quickly learning to be a trademark grin.
The three of them continued to make conversation and laugh until at last they felt the train grind to a steady halt.
Hermione looked out of the window and was stunned to see they were just meters away from a glittering lake that seemed to stretch on forever, flanked on both sides by great mountains covered in trees and vineyards. She had never felt further from home.
She emerged with Marianne and Leon onto the station platform and her mouth fell open further as the castle came into view. The word didn't do it justice.
A huge intricate structure rested at the top of the hill with further levels descending down into its side. It was composed entirely of warm toned stone, beset with grand archways, towers lost in clouds, roman pillars and ornate balconies, ivy and wisteria tangled artfully throughout.
It was something from a fairytale.
Around her several others appeared to be having the same reaction to the dramatic scenery, at least she wasn't alone in her bewilderment.
Then a short wizard with a ruddy face appeared to meet them, and the first years were led up a winding path to the very foot of the hill, where a series of large glass funiculars awaited them.
The wizard turned to them, he also had a full bushy beard and Hermione noticed he wore large round glasses, like Harry's.
"Jump in everyone, don't be shy!" He said with exuberance.
They loaded in and the glass bubbles began to ascend the hill, but there was no chugging motor or sensation of being pulled up, it felt more like a balloon rising silently into the sky unhindered.
"I've dreamed of this moment for so many years." Marianne whispered gleefully from beside her as they reached the top and made their way through an arched entryway to the castle.
Up close it was even more spectacular.
"This is incredible." Hermione agreed.
They filed into a courtyard bordered by pillars, at the far end a dais with a podium had been set up, and above them a giant shimmering dome of glass covered the space and revealed the evening sky.
"Welcome." A smooth voice rang out and Hermione tore her eyes from the view overhead to see a woman had appeared at the podium.
She was incredibly striking, her skin was a deep mahogany but her eyes were shockingly gold, her hair swept up in thick silver braids that ran to her waist.
"My name is Professor Diana Tolliani, I am the headmistress here at Forte di Cuore. May I first offer my congratulations, only the most exceptional of witches and wizards have stood where you now stand. As you well know this is the oldest and most prestigious magical university in the world, and as such the world expects incredible things of our students and graduates. So be proud, if you have made it into this room, you have given us reason to believe you can live up to that legacy, and perhaps... even exceed it."
Her expression was warm but the weight of her gaze was intense.
"Classes begin in three days, but first we must assign you your houses for the year."
Hermione was suddenly standing in the great hall of Hogwarts again, the sorting hat being lowered onto her head. She blinked and returned to the present.
Tolliani drew an object from her pocket wrapped in silk, and uncovered it to reveal a clear crystal that seemed to vibrate with power.
"Many of you will have been assigned houses at your previous schools according to your character traits. Our sorting works in a similar way. But at Forte di Cuore we believe that success is dependant on collaboration. A balance of the brave, the cunning, the kind, and the intellectual. Therefore this crystal will not simply place you with those who share your particular mindset and abilities, but with those who will challenge and balance you."
There was a murmur of surprise from the crowd at this and the headmistress held up her hands for silence.
She took out her wand and with a flick six large round tables appeared in the courtyard, each bearing a different coloured Forte di Cuore symbol.
"The six houses are Rosso, Azzuro, Verde, Giallo, Bianca, and Nera. There will be eight students per house, and you will be a team for the duration of your first year, so it is imperative that you make an effort to connect with one another if you wish to succeed in your studies. When I call your name please come forth and place your hand upon the crystal. The colour it transforms into represents your house. Let's begin."
She placed the crystal upon the podium and extracted a scroll from her robes. One by one she began to read out names and one by one students approached the podium and placed a hand upon the crystal, which then glowed either red for Rosso, blue for Azzuro, green for Verde, yellow for Giallo, white for Bianca, or black for Nera.
After a while Marianne was called. She placed a hand onto the stone with confidence and wonder, and when it burned blue she twirled and practically skipped from the podium to take a seat at the Azzuro table, giving Hermione a passing wink.
Leon was next, and the stone filled with black for the house of Nera. Hermione smiled encouragingly as they applauded and he took his seat.
Almost everyone had been called when it was finally her turn.
"Hermione Granger."
The courtyard filled with murmurs at her name, and she tensed.
She could feel all eyes upon her as she walked up to the podium. The crystal sparkled as she gently placed her palm against the cool gem, and then it's depths seemed to swirl for a moment as if contemplating before shining brightly blue.
Relief flooded her as she headed quickly to the Azzuro table and sat beside Marianne, who was actually bouncing in her seat with excitement. Hermione took in the rest of the table, two other girls and three boys sat around it and all smiled and greeted her quietly as the ceremony continued.
She tried to memorise their names as they were told to her; Eliza, Selene, Will, Zander, and Alec. Her housemates.
She hadn't been close with the other Gryffindors at Hogwarts beyond Harry, Ron and Ginny. Of course there were far more than eight students in the school houses but she didn't even have much of a relationship with her dormmates; Lavender and Parvati's close friendship had left no room for her.
Hermione had prepared herself for a similar situation here, but looking around at her new house, she felt herself relax a little, they seemed friendly enough and she could already tell that she and Marianne would be close friends. It wasn't a substitute for Ron and Harry and Hogwarts, but with these people in this place, it felt like a fresh start, and she felt strangely at home.
But the Azzuro table was missing one more student, and they all looked back to the dais to see who it would be.
"Kai Ordell."
The remaining students shuffled to make way for someone, and Hermione's blood instantly ran ice cold as a boy stepped up to the podium.
A boy with silver white hair.
Her mind immediately flooded with memories of a cold tiled floor, searing pain, bloody letters carved into her arm, her throat raw from screaming. She scrunched her eyes shut and took a deep shuddering breath, trying desperately to calm down.
It wasn't him it couldn't be, she was just being paranoid. She forced the images from her mind and willed herself to look. The boy had his back to the tables so his face was hidden from view, but he was tall and lean in a way she didn't think Malfoy had been, and his skin was lightly tanned where Draco had always been deathly pale. It wasn't him. She was sure.
The stone glowed deep blue and the boy clenched his fist. Applause came and went but he did not move, and the whole courtyard fell silent waiting expectantly. Finally, without releasing his clenched hand, the boy turned to face the Azzuro table.
Hermione forgot how to breathe.
He stalked over slowly and took the final seat. Directly opposite her. As the others greeted him she immediately turned back to the sorting but she wasn't paying attention at all, her ears felt like they were ringing with white noise. This was a nightmare. She couldn't look, but all too soon the ceremony was over and dinner was being served.
She began to eat, trying to keep her manner light and relaxed whilst keeping her gaze on any other person at the table, or pretending to be engaged completely with whatever Marianne was saying.
But she could feel eyes burning into her from across the table and the longer she ignored it the more intense it became until finally she could bear it no longer and looked up, directly into the eyes of Draco Malfoy, who was staring at her with a look that could only be described as murderous.
Please review and let me know what you think!
Next chapter coming soon...