Thank you so much for the follows and reviews! Always appreciated. I hope that you had a fabulous Halloween. As far as trigger warnings...It's Tom Riddle so there's that. I hope you enjoy the next chapter. We are not going to see Tom for a bit. Our girl must grow up but don't worry, they grow up so fast. Please let me know what you think. Don't forget to vote. Love Lark P.S. I do not own this world
Objects of Beauty
Chapter 3
Hepzibah led Hermione on tottering heels back down to Diagon Alley. She had cast a few cleansing spells on her person and Hermione's skin felt unpleasantly raw in places, the tip of her nose, in particular. Her body was unsteady as the effects of the dark curse worked its way through her system. She was holding in the panic that wanted to escape her. How had she dropped all of her father's teachings so easily? She supposed that it was because she had been dazzled by Tom's good looks. Then she had been so distracted by her first sight of Diagon Alley that caution had gone out the window. She wondered again at why her parents had made the deliberate decision to keep this world from her. One thing was certain, all of her father's drilling of defensive spells had not gone in vain. Hermione knew that she would have been at Tom's mercy had she not had wandless magic at her disposal.
The first stop was to an apothecary with bright pink stripes decorating its awning. The day's sales were displayed on a board in glittering purple letters. Hermione thought it looked more like a sweet shop than a place of healing. Hepzibah had a whispered conversation with the corpulent clerk who threw Hermione a sympathetic glance. He handed her a vial of liquid that glowed silver. "Drink it quick." He advised. "It works a treat but don't feel so good going down." She looked to Hepzibah who nodded encouragingly. She figured that anything would be better that the cold pain wracking her body. Uncorking the stopper she tipped it down her throat.
A burning sensation had her almost spitting the mixture on the floor but she kept drinking. Her mother had made her a similar mixture once to ward off body aches brought on by a particularly bad flu. A welcome warmth spread to her limbs. She almost groaned in relief.
"There she goes." The clerk said happily. "Right as rain."
Hermione thanked the clerk and wanted to know the recipe while Hepzibah paid him with two large silver coins. She asked him well informed questions about alternative plants which the clerk answered happily.
"She's smart as a whip, isn't she?" The clerk smiled at Hepzibah.
"She is indeed." Hepzibah looked amused. "How would a slip of a girl have such extensive knowledge of potions I wonder." Her eyes twinkled as if amused by a private joke.
Hermione looked down, uncomfortable. She had forgotten herself in this new and exciting world. She wondered how many of her father's rules about secrecy still applied.
"Never mind that now. Might I use your floo?" She asked. The clerk bowed her through to the back room. "I won't be but a moment." She told the bewildered child and ducked through the doorway.
Hermione spent several moments perusing the labels of the floor to ceiling jars. Some of the ingredients she recognized. Other jars professed to have all sorts of outlandish things such as dragon's claws and unicorn bile. She could have spent several more hours happily exploring the shop but Hepzibah was already bustling back into the room.
"Now then, that was the potion and now for some nourishment. Are you hungry?"
As if in answer Hermione's stomach gave an audible growl. Hepzibah laughed. "That answers that. Come along."
"Please, tell me about this place. Diagon Alley? How is it kept from muggles? How many more witches and wizards are there? Are there communities in other countries?" Hermione peppered her with questions.
Hepzibah looked indulgent and began to explain as they walked toward a grouping of brightly colored restaurants. The girl's curiosity knew no bounds but she managed to keep her questions to a minimum.
They arrived at a cafe that overlooked the busy street. Hepzibah ordered them a cream tea. Hermione's eyes widened at the rich piles of food placed in front of them. The older witch heaped their plates to overflowing and poured them tea. Hermione had to restrain herself from not eating the cakes and sandwiches whole. It had been months since she had enough food to fill her belly.
When she had eaten her fill Hepzibah refilled their tea and sat back. "And there was the promised meal. It's your turn, my dear. Tell me about yourself."
"Well, I'm eleven years old. I grew up with my parents by Primrose Hill. They owned a pharmacy. About six months ago their home was likely hit by a buzz bomb while I was out running an errand. I'd nowhere to go so they sent me to the..." Hermione had the unpleasant feeling of her tongue gluing itself to the top of her mouth. The curse that Tom had cast forbid her to speak of Wool's apparently. "I was put in a place with lots of other children. I've been there ever since. That's about it." Hermione finished uncomfortably.
"I see that boy put some kind of curse on you." Hepzibah tutted. "But you are trained well beyond your years magically. I saw it with my own eyes. Your parents, were they both wand bearers?"
Hermione nodded. "Yes, they taught me. I went to regular school too. You know? For muggle stuff like maths and writing. Until today I though we were the only ones who could perform magic. My parents heavily implied that there weren't any others like us." Hepzibah snorted.
" I see. And how did you come to be tortured in an alley by that boy?"
"Well, I had found something of value that belonged to him. It wasn't a very nice thing. I'm not sure what they were to be honest. I was curious and I broke his wards. When I refused to give them back, he attacked me." Hermione's joints still ached and there was an unpleasant coldness to her that the warm tea had not been able to wash away. "He told me that he would buy a book for me and I foolishly followed him here. I should'nt have but he was so kind." She prodded the remains of an eclaire with her finger.
"What were these things? These objects." Hepzibah pushed.
Hermione opened her mouth to describe the ring and the diary but found that her tongue stuck unpleasantly to the roof of her mouth again. Shaking her head as if to clear it she tried again with the same result. "I'm sorry." She told Hepzibah. I think he cursed me so that I would be unable to tell you anything about it.
"The coward." Hepzibah hissed. "I assume he will be waiting for you when you get back?"
Hermione's large eyes grew rounder. "I hadn't thought about it but I suppose you must be right." She began to worry the napkin in her lap. Hepzibah leaned over and placed a calming hand on hers. Hermione flinched at the touch. She'd learned a hard lesson from Tom.
"Tell me what you can about this place you are living." The older witch asked her gently.
She looked into the older woman's bright blue eyes and saw only kindness there. Hermione sighed and began to talk. Though she could not say the name or the address she said what she could. She told her of the crowded facilities, of the cruelty from the staff and other children alike. She talked of her uncertain future and the food which became scarcer with every meal. "I miss my parents every day. They loved me. You must believe that they did." Hermione felt tears threaten her eyes.
"Here now." Hepzibah's eyes were suspiciously bright as well. "We can't have you going back there. You're a proper little witch. Tell me, what would happen if you were to not return tonight?"
Hermione thought about this. "They wouldn't miss me at all. So many new children are delivered each morning. They would probably be relieved at the free bed.
"Then may I suggest that you come home with me? At least for a few days until we can find what can be done?" Noting the hesitation in the girl's eyes she hurried on. "The same as before, no harm will come to you as long as I can do something about it. I can promise you a soft bed and good food."
Hermione's stomach churned at the thought of returning there. "I gratefully accept." She told the older witch formally.
...
Hermione crashed onto a soft carpet coughing and sputtering. Ashes coated her tongue. Of all the wonderful things she had learned about, the Floo network was definitely the least impressive. Waves of nausea passed over her. There had to be a better way to travel. She heard Hepzibah spin into the room.
"Oh dear." She tutted. "Hokey?"
Hermione opened her eyes in time to see a strange little creature pop into view. It was the size of a small child but the wrinkles that lined it face told her that it was far from young. Her mind cast back to a book her father had owned about "mythical" creatures. "But you're a house elf! Aren't you?"
The house elf looked confused but dropped into a curtesy nonetheless. "Hokey at your service Miss."
Hepzibah was amused. "Yes, this is Hokey, she runs the staff of three house elves for my home. She will take you to your rooms and get you settled. I've some errands to run this afternoon. You like books, yes? Hokey will show your to the library after you've had a proper bath."
"A library!" Hermione clapped her hands at the thought.
"A very big one. Father was quite the collector. I enjoy it as well but his tastes ran to books where as I prefer rare objects of beauty. Now, Hokey, this is Hermione Granger. She is to be our guest for at least a few days. Please take her to the blue bedroom and get her set up. Here are some clothes that we picked up." Hepzibah hovered a large pile of packages to the elf who tottered under the weight.
"Let me help you." Hermione rushed forward.
The elf looked affronted. "Pardon me Miss, but a house elf is being here to helps you. The elf slipped out from under the pile and sent it hovering through the house. Hokey raised an eyebrow to Hermione as if to prove her point.
Remembering that they were related to Brownies Hermione kept her tongue. It would not do to insult one. Though she did wonder if they ever desired freedom. She vowed to investigate the matter more closely another time. Silently she followed Hokey through the house. It was a large and opulent place. The carpets winked up at her with jewel tones. Ornate shelves full to the brim with objects, vases and statues lined the long wide hallway.
Hepzibah had not been exaggerating about being a collector. She itched to explore the house throughly. It would be like staying in a museum, something she had always wanted to do as a small child. They climbed up a grand staircase flanked by marble pillars at its base. "These be Miss Hepzibah's rooms." Hokey pointed down a bright hallway lit by floor to ceiling windows on one wall. The elf turned them to the right and walked down a second hallway. "These are being your rooms Miss Hermione."
The room was brightly lit. The four poster bed was hung with silk curtains in undulating shades of blue. A large marble fireplace sat opposite. Hermione walked to the large window and looked out. To her delight it overlooked a sprawling garden that was bursting with flowers. The window had a wide cushioned seat that would be perfect for curling up with a good book.
"Does Miss likes the rooms?" Hokey twisted her small hands apprehensively.
"These are the most beautiful rooms I've ever seen." She told the elf honestly. Hokey hopped on her feet, thrilled.
She took her to the adjoining bathroom. It was tiled in blue jewel tones. In the center, set into the floor, was a bath. Hokey showed her how to work the four taps. One of them filled the tub with any temperature of water that Hermione desired. Another added thick white bubbles. Two added different scents. "The perfumes are special blends from France. They changes every month but if Miss likes one especially, tell me and I'll keeps it specially for you."
"Thank you Hokey, but I imagine I'm only here for a few days." Hermione told the elf.
Hokey made a snort that sounded like disbelief but said nothing more. She looked up and gave Hermione's tangle of hair a hard stare. Her cheeks burned at the elf's scrutiny. Her hair had always been unmanageable but with the weekly baths at the orphanage and the lack of brushes it was now a riotous mess that sat ridiculously on top of her head. She felt grimier than ever in this clean, pretty place.
Hokey's wizened face split into a grin. She snapped her fingers and two brown glass bottles appeared. "When Miss Hepzibah was younger she had hair like yours. These is the hair potions she used to clean and control them. When young Miss has a wand Hokey will show you spells to braid and style it."
Hermione took the bottles gratefully. Her mother had mixed shampoos for her and her father's hair. She now suspected that they were similar to these potions. Hokey bowed from the room, promising to have some hot chocolate, biscuits and fruit set out for her when she finished. As the water was filling the tub Hermione wondered at the sudden turn her life had taken. In one day she had discovered that there was a whole magical world, been tortured in an alley and now found herself in one of the most beautiful homes that she'd ever seen.
As she sunk gratefully into the warm water she pondered this turn of events. Worry about what would happen after the last few days gnawed at her. After her time at the orphanage Hermione wanted very much to have a place to call home again.
...