Writing in bold is penseive memories
Dumbledore used a transference spell to materialize from the underground chamber to the great hall. If any one has seen the worst witch you would know that Miss Hardbroom uses it a lot.
A month since Hermione woke up in her new hell she spent the majority of it sitting curled up on the window ledge in her drafty room in the attic. Her body was aching from her recent beating her backside red and sore from where the knotted tails nicked her skin causing her to bleed.
The room was cold and wet from the leaking roof, her bed soaked from the rain. She didn't dare complain again not after her last lesson. Boredom had set in a long time ago she had no wand and no trunk, her clothes taken from her and forced to wear what appeared to be prison scrubs eerily like Azkaban inmates. Unflattering and did nothing to stop the awful weather seeping into her bones leaving her constantly shaking.
She had received six more lashes and the blood quill as punishment since arriving, the smallest faction resulted in her knickers vanishing and bent over the pink toads desk where she would use the cat 'o nine tails or the cruciatus. As hard as she tried Hermione couldn't keep out of Umbridge's way. The woman made it her mission to make her life a complete misery which in her opinion wasn't very difficult to begin with.
A sharp knock brought her out of her thoughts, she glanced around the darkened room it didn't come from the door as Umbridge had locked it up. A flickering shadow caught her eye she slowly turned bracing her hands against the glass, jumping out her skin as the pain pelted loudly against the window.
All of a sudden the window unlatched and swung open to a soaking wet blonde ferret battling against the wind and rain. He pulled the eye guard away from his face letting it drop around his neck as he turned the broom to Hermione.
"I know you don't remember much but trust me" Draco shouted over the howling wind, grasping Hermione's hand pulling away to balance the swaying broom.
"How?" Hermione asked looking down at her wand in her hand, she could feel the humming of her magic vibrating through her body.
"When your wand was taken from you at Hogwarts, Harry came up with the plan to copy your wand replacing the real with the fake. The headmaster took your trunk back to school". He explained.
"Why are you here Malfoy?".
The use of his surname faltered the smile on his face.
"Come with me so I can explain everything" he replied moving the broom closer to the window. "Or stay here and carry on being abused by that ugly pink dog".
Hermione gulped at the gap between the window and the Slytherin, pushing down her fear she took the outstretched hand and swung her leg over the wet wood, wrapping her arms around Draco's waist burying her face in his back.
By the time the duo made it to solid ground they were drenched, their robes plastered to their bodies like second skin, their hair tangled and matted.
Hermione blinked away the rain, brushing back her damp curls from her face as she took in the castle grounds. "You brought me back to the one place that I was sent away from".
Draco ignored her comment leading her through a tight gap in the castle wall. Hermione followed into the darkness to be met with the grinning face of Harry and Ronald.
Harry pulled her into a crushing hug. "I'm glad you're alright I knew Draco would get you here in one piece".
Hermione took a seat on the couch glancing around the underground chamber. A small fireplace sat crackling away on the far wall, two couches and an armchair took up most of the room. Swirling her wand over her head, the drenched clothes drying immediately under the intense magic.
"You said you would explain". Politely taking the mug of butterbeer from Ron.
Draco sighed plonking down next to Harry.
"Mom thinks you may be suffering from delusions could be from a head injury or illness and that you forgot about everything".
Hermione nodded keeping tight lipped.
"We met before the welcoming feast in first year. You was this small scrappy kid hiring in the shadows..".
"How about using your aunt's penseive instead so Hermione can see for herself" Harry spoke up interrupting Draco, gently placing a stone bowl upon the small table.
The four students delved into the bowl once Draco placed the silvery strain of memory in the murky liquid.
"Students shall wait here till the deputy headmistress is ready for yeh" Hagrid boomed out over the excited and nervous first years.
Draco leant on the stone banister outside the great hall, dressed in his immaculate robes next to Harry who fiddled nervously with his crooked glasses.
The crowd excitedly chatting amongst themselves waiting impatiently for the sorting.
A lone small figure lurking in the shadows caught Draco's attention, elbowing the thin wizard beside him.
"Who do you think that is?" he asked pointing a pale finger at the wall.
Harry shrugged, turning his gaze upon the direction the blonde was rudely indicating.
"It is rude to point Draco maybe we should introduce ourselves" Harry replied stepping away from the banister.
They pushed through the mass of students.
"You know you don't need to hide right" Harry gently spoke to the small girl sitting on the ground, her head buried in her knees.
Draco knelt down beside her, his grey eyes sadly taking in her ratty trousers that barely covered her legs, the robe she wore was far to large for her tiny frame. Her brown curly hair reminded him of his aunt Bellatrix.
"I am Draco this is Harry it's nice to meet you". He laid a hand on her arm, shocked at how cold she was under his touch.
The young girl looked up at the boys, scrunching her button nose at them.
"Hermione" was all she said. Her voice barely above a whisper, her cinnamon eyes cloudy.
Draco and Harry helped the girl to her feet, she swayed slightly struggling to find her balance.
"Good evening first years I am professor McGonagall deputy headmistress and transfiguration professor. Shortly you shall be sorted into your houses, Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff". A tall Scottish woman in emerald green robes stood elegantly before the double doors.
"Welcome to Hogwarts Hermione" Draco excitedly whispered.
The trio walked through the long isle between two house tables. They watched as student after student was sorted.
"Malfoy, Draco" the stern woman called out.
"Good luck Draco" Harry punched him on the shoulder playfully, pushing him towards the stool and sorting hat.
The hat barely touched his sleek blonde hair when it shouted "Slytherin". Cheers rose from the green and silver students as he proudly walked to his new house. Taking a seat he turned to watch the young girl fidget with her second hand robes.
"Potter, Harry".
Draco smiled as his childhood friend flounced on the stool, his face hidden from view by the ratty hat. His gaze drifted upon the professors table catching the dark look of his godfather and the manic gleam of his aunt Bellatrix.
"Slytherin".
Draco jumped up from the bench bringing his gloomy looking friend into a hug. "Knew you would be with me Potter".
"Hermione".
Both boys still standing turned to watch the young girl without a last name clamber up on the stool, the hat engulfing her upper body. The hall was silent as the minutes ticked by and still no house was called.
"Do you think something is wrong?" someone called out.
Draco noticed the worried looks of professors McGonagall and Dumbledore and to his surprise his aunt as they watched on.
Knowing it was frowned upon to interfere with a sorting, Draco slowly edged his way to the girl on the stool with Harry behind him unfortunately for them McGonagall stepped into their path.
"Hogwarts" the hat shouted out.
Once the underground chamber returned Hermione started to pace, turning to the boys.
"What was wrong with me?". That certainly wasn't her but she wasn't going to fight the only people that seemed friendly and familiar in this strange world.
"Wasn't until... a few months into first year... that you admitted that.. you couldn't see properly" Ron replied through a mouthful of food earning a slap from Harry for his piggish manners.
"Can I see more memories?".
Draco grinned, jumping up from the couch "of course I was hoping you would say that". Kneeling by the bowl he used his wand to extract the memories placing them into the liquid.
Draco embraced the trembling girl coaxing her to sit down with him and Harry at their house table.
"How's having your own chambers Hermione?" Harry asked, pushing his glasses back up his nose.
Hermione bit her lip. "It is okay I suppose". Tucking in to her porridge, her hands shaking.
"I bet it's lonely" Ronald Weasley commented taking a seat opposite them.
The girl shrugged. "Used to it".
"What you all doing for Yule?" Harry swiftly changed the subject.
The great hall was decorated for the Yule season, four huge trees with fairies floating around its lush greenery creating the illusion of fairy lights, in each corner of the hall.
"Nothing much going home I suppose" Draco grinned.
Ron sighed "staying here as mom and dad are off to see my brother Charlie in Romania, he's a dragon tamer".
Harry turned to Hermione noticing the sad look on her face.
"What about you Hermione?".
"Back to the orphanage madam Umbridge prefers us there".
"She must really like you all".
Hermione shook her head, pushing the bowl away "no she can't tolerate us, we only go back so she knows we aren't having a good time".
None of the boys knew what to say to her emotionless comment.
The image changed to another.
Draco smirked upon seeing his tiny friend sitting in her usual spot in the library, advancing upon the silent girl.
"Hermione you can tell me where to shove it but is there something wrong with your eyes?" Draco gently coaxed the small girl to speak.
Hermione closed the large tome, turning her attention on her friend.
"I struggle to see properly, I can tell the difference between you and Harry by your colour but otherwise it's all blurry" she admitted.
"So you can't actually read then?".
She sadly shook her head "no but Amy my friend from the orphanage taught me a spell that allows the words to speak in to my mind as long as I hold the book".
Draco smiled "so you are sort of blind then?"
"Yes".
Hermione grimaced at the causal way her younger self just accepted her fate. Another memory started.
"Happy birthday Hermione" Draco sang, dropping the green wrapped present on the table.
Hermione eyed the gift with suspicion.
"Open it silly" he prodded her cheek playfully earning a small giggle in return.
Hermione grabbed the present gently opening the wrapping paper. She smiled at the latest edition of Hogwarts a history and box of berties every flavour beans.
"Thank you Draco I love it" she whispered brushing a lone tear away.
Draco nodded shyly taking his seat just as Harry showed up with a long badly wrapped parcel slung over his shoulder.
"Happy birthday Hermione". Placing the parcel in front of them. "From me and my parents".
Hermione with the boys help ripped off the paper to see the newest broom.
Draco spluttered up a laugh "er Harry you brought a broom for someone who hates flying".
"No I got it because it might help you get over your fears Hermione".
"Thank you Harry" Hermione smiled, her fingers dancing over the polish wood.
Ron bounded over with childish glee dropping his gift on Hermione's lap.
"Happy birthday Hermione". His eyes roaming over her new broom.
Chocolates and sugar quills. "Thank you Ron" she smiled at her favourite sweet treats.
"How old are you now anyway?" Ron asked.
"Same as you obviously I'm twelve, what are you?.. a dunderhead".
Hermione chuckled that did sound a lot like her.
Hermione and Draco sat on the bed in the infirmary as madam Pomfrey bustled about collecting her potions.
"Are you sure this will work?" Hermione timidly asked.
"Of course it will have faith my small friend" Draco smiled placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
The matron glided up to them, a metal tray full of potion bottles levitating behind the stern but friendly woman.
"Now dear lie down on your back".
Draco jumped off the bed allowing his friend to stretch out, taking a step away from the bed as the mediwitch carefully dripped a purple potion in Hermione's eyes before covering her eyes with a white bandage.
"You are to stay still for the next hour my dear and you young man keep your friend in bed".
Draco nodded his affirmative, taking a seat on the visitors chair.
"Won't be long till you can finally see properly Hermione. It will be rather strange at first I would imagine but you have Harry, Ronald and I to help you".
The memories suddenly stopped spitting out the four friends landing hard on their backsides.
"Doesn't make sense there was still more to view" Draco exclaimed.
A soft clearing of a throat alerted the friends to intruders.
"Of course not dear boy I brought you four back to the present" the headmaster cheerfully commented sitting perched on the armchair, his blue eyes twinkling in mischief.
Somethings never change.
Hermione glanced at the five professors sitting on the couches watching them.
"You promised Hermione she wouldn't have to go back to that shit hole" Draco sneered.
"Draco Lucius Malfoy! Language" his mother scowled, clicking her tongue in disapproval.
The headmaster swiftly intervened "a fault on my part" his eyes landing on Hermione "I apologize I never did like that awful place".
"You won't make me go back then". Hermione shifted nervously on her feet.
"No dear Albus will not be sending you back to that horrid woman" professor McGonagall replied "but as a ward of the ministry we aren't meant to interfere".
Alecto suddenly materialized behind Hermione causing her to jump. "A family can take you in of course and my brother has taken quite a shine to you after you managed to best us". She whispered in to Hermione's ear, her lips grazing her earlobe.
"I am happy to take Hermione in".
Hermione squirmed under the death eaters affections.
"I think it best for Miss Granger if Andromeda took her in" Narcissa informed the headmaster "she is after all the only one able to give Hermione the support and treatment for her illness that this moment in time".
"Will Andromeda even agree though? After all she has her own troubles to deal with what with that cheating bastard ex of hers" Minerva grimaced, her brows knitting together.
"I have already spoken to my sister and it was her idea to take Hermione in".
Hello I'm right here.. stop talking about me as if I am not. How rude!.
Bellatrix suddenly cackled like an old witch trapping children in her gingerbread house. Hermione shivered under the grey eyes of the smirking woman.
"You sure are little girl" she purred advancing on Hermione abruptly pulling her from the female Carrow's hold. Their chests crushed into each other, Bellatrix's hands holding Hermione's hips in a vice grip.
"Bella do I need to remind you that you are manhandling a student, an underage student?".
Hermione turned her head, her cheek resting on the hard corset to look the blonde woman in the eye, the grip Bellatrix had her in stopped her from escaping.
"How old do you think I am?" her voice muffled by the material of the older woman's teaching robes.
Wait what? They made an insane death eater a professor oh good lord what world have I stumbled on. I wonder if she has the dark mark still? Or did it disappear when Voldemort died.
The woman's sharp nails dug into her hips, she hissed at the pain, she felt the arms around her tensing up.
Oh no she can hear my thoughts.. fuck she's a Legilimens. No wonder she made a great second in command to his holy snakeness.
"Fifteen Hermione" Harry replied bringing her out of her thoughts.
Biting her lip to stop the retort.
"I do believe it's time for breakfast why don't we take this to the great hall?". The headmaster climbed to his feet with such ease one would be surprised at his true age.
Waving his hand the underground chamber disappeared to be replaced with great hall.
Bellatrix released Hermione a shark tooth smile appearing over her beautiful face as she leant into the younger woman.
"My sister doesn't tolerate disrespect little girl" she whispered before taking her leave of Hermione and taking her seat at the high rise.