Hello and thank you for the reviews and follows. For readers of The Third Side, I will have a chapter for you later this week. For readers of Don't Forget Me, there will me an update by next Tuesday. I am so shocked that we have almost reached a hundred follows. I would love to hear your thoughts. I used the word "hooey" because I feel that it is underused in today's world. Have a wonderful weekend. Love, Lark
Objects of Beauty Chapter 5
When Hermione was safely out of sight Dumbledore turned to Hepzibah. "I imagine that this is a long tale but can you explain why Miss Granger was given a Cruciatus calming elixir?"
Hepzibah waved her hands in the air as if shooshing it away. "I'll explain all that over dinner." She led them into the dining room.
Griphook sneered at the artfully arranged roast pheasant on a bed of vegetables. "I'll eat later, if you please. I will take a goblet of goblin mead if you have it?"
"Of course!" Hepzibah waved her wand and a bottle and pewter goblet appeared at Griphook's place. He sniffed it and nodded approvingly.
They sat and both Dumbledore and Hepzibah enjoyed the rich food. She explained about finding Hermione screaming and under the curse in Knock Turn Alley. "The child had managed to both break a full body bind and cast a Protego without a wand!"
"And she has a sticky tongue curse place on her. That's unfortunate, a difficult spell to break to be sure. It almost borders on dark magic." Dumbledore's long fingers played with his fork. "And I believe that the child of Hector and Rose Granger would be able to do such a thing. I understand that he took it as his personal life's work to train his daughter to protect herself. From the little I heard of her over the years I understand her to be uncommonly bright.
"It must have been a Hogwart's student who attacked her." Griphook added.
"Yes, do you have an idea who Albus?" Hepzibah signaled Hokey to clear the table.
"I do." Dumbledore was troubled. "I believe I know who it was. It's a boy I've kept my eye on for years. I fear that Grindlewald will see his strength and recruit him. Of course, with the curse in place we will not be able to prove a thing. The more she tries to point the blame to him the more addled she will become. It can lead to madness." He stood after Hepzibah and they began to walk to the sitting room.
"Let her keep the memory so that she recognizes this boy for who she is should they meet in the future. Warn her of the danger." Griphook advised.
Dumbledore looked over surprised. It was not goblin nature to be concerned about the affairs of humans. He filed this curiosity away for later. "I think that wise."
"That being said, I should like to get to the matter at hand. Who will take Miss Granger. Her fortune is considerable. I can begin an inquiry into which of her closest relatives will be willing to take her in. Of course, she is a half blood." He gazed at them meaningfully.
"I too am concerned about such a thing as well." Hepzibah chimed in. "And Albus, why is it you are called upon to make this decision for a child you have never met?"
Dumbledore sipped at his elf made wine. "I thought her dead." He said almost to himself. "I have your confidence?" He looked to the goblin and to the elderly witch who both nodded emphatically. "Twelve years ago, when Grindlewald first began to rise a prophecy was made. It stated that two children, cousins, in fact, would be born out of the same muggleborn blood line. Together these two would form a magical force strong enough to defeat the most powerful dark wizard of our time." Dumbledore glanced at Griphook who displayed no surprise.
"Grindlewald heard the whispers and attempted to murder the younger of the two children. Somehow he survived, though sadly his parents did not, and I placed him in care with his relatives. We managed to get word to the Dagworth-Grangers in time and they disappeared into the muggle world, hoping to hide in plain sight." He sighed heavily. "I had heard of their demise six months ago. I thought we'd lost her. I promised Hector that should something happen to them that I would watch out for their daughter."
"You think that girl is strong enough to defeat Grindlewald?" Hepzibah's voice scaled up in disbelief.
"Perhaps not now but it is not a prophecy to take lightly. We must guard every hope we can. Grindlewald rises in power, many innocent lives are in peril." He smoothed the bright velvet of his suit.
"Humph! Guard our hopes to be sure and perhaps some should guard their hearts." There was a knowing look in the old woman's eyes.
Dumbledore cleared his throat uncomfortably. "It occurs to me Hepzibah Smith that it might be fate that you came to be in that alley. I know that you regret never having a child of your own. I am also aware that you are uniquely suited to teach Hermione to navigate Pureblood society and to teach her to...guard her own heart shall we say? You and I both know that you are more than capable in this regard."
"You are too bold." She sputtered but she was laughing as she said it. "This is not the first time this was suggested to me." She nodded to the goblin.
"But will you take her on Miss Smith? I have been dealing with the financial affairs of mortal humans for longer that you have been alive. I tell you, if she does not have an honest witch to guide her I fear for her fortune." Griphook's eyes bored into her.
At length Hepzibah threw up her hands. "All right, I'll do it but on a trial basis. I've no idea what it is to be a mother."
"I think that she needs love." Dumbledore said carefully. "Miss Smith, if I may be so bold, Griphook is right. I feel that Hermione will need your guidance to navigate through power structures and to be taught to resist handsome wizards and their empty promises."
"You don't intend for her to live as I did!" Hepzibah was shocked.
"Not as such." Dumbledore assured her. "I think that the main goal is for our girl to live. You cannot tell me that knowledge of how to navigate power structures was ever a bad thing."
Hepzibah considered his words. "Alright, I'll take her on a trial basis. She will go to Beauxbatons. I'll not have her worrying about running into that boy. Before the summer ends I'll tell her the truth about me and she can make her choice of whether or not she will stay." Hepzibah's crossed her arms as of expecting an argument.
"Surely Hogwart's would be better? I can keep an eye on her." Dumbledore argued.
"You have a way of meddling, young man and if that girl is to stay with me I'll do what I think best. I will consider all options if you wish but I'll make the final decision."Hepzibah was firm.
"Shall I write up the documents then?" Griphook asked.
"That would be delightful. Thank you." Dumbledore looked at them both. "As to the prophecy, they are still children yet. Let us tell them as they reach their maturity. Let them be innocent children a little while longer."
"I'll need to see this prophecy." Hepzibah told him. "Which family? Who is her cousin?"
"The Potters." Dumbledore said gravely.
"Ah! Yes, James and Lily. But she was such a beautiful lady. If I said it once I've said it a hundred times, that witch proved that blood status was a bunch of hooey." She thought a moment. "But I never heard of her sister marrying Hector? In fact, I don't think anyone knew he had married?"
"Yes, as to that, you can imagine how his parents would have taken the news? And then Horatio had the heart attack and Helena followed soon after. Hector regrettably did not find a good time to tell them. And then when the prophecy was made we suspected that it might be about his yet unborn daughter. They lived in secret for a while in Ottery St. Catchpole, when the Potter's were attacked they decided to go muggle. They loved Hermione above anything you see?"
"Good gods!" Hepzibah exclaimed. "I'd always wondered about Hector. All those potions he invented have changed so many lives for the better. I suspect that his daughter might know a few of his secrets. I spoke to her a little. She is extraordinarily well trained. I've never seen the like."
"Yes, I imagine they taught her to protect herself as best they knew how." Dumbledore said sadly. "I only wish that it hadn't come to this."
Two floors above them Hermione Granger slept the first deep and untroubled sleep that she had in months. She did not know that when she woke a new path would be set for her. She smiled into the soft pillow and dreamed of her mother.
...
Across London Tom Riddle sat on the steps of Wool's orphanage. He cursed himself for not grabbing Mia when he apparated. She had not returned. He did not even know the face of the witch who had interrupted. A quick perusal of Mrs. Cole's document file showed no sign of Mia. None of the other children even knew her last name.
He would return to Diagon Alley the next day to look for her. His fists clenched into balls of impotent rage. He vowed that he would not make the same mistake with hiding the pieces of himself again. In a few days time he would leave the orphanage to go and tutor the Nott heir. Headmaster Dippet had put in a good word for him.
While Tom did not relish the thought of pandering to the little brat he knew that the Nott family was deeply influential. This was a golden opportunity to gain access to more of the Pureblood families. And Mr. Nott had promised Tom an introduction to Grindlewald himself. Tom was not sure how he felt about the wizard but could see that there was power there.
He gazed out into the inky London night. Somewhere out there Mia held his secret. If he did not find her now she was sure to be in Hogwart's come fall. The little chit would pay for all the trouble she caused. The smile on his face at this thought marred his beautiful features. Still, he wondered at her magical abilites and lack of knowledge of the magical world. It was a odd combination to be sure. Jealousy welled up in him. Someone had loved her enough to teach her these things. It still irked him that she, a small girl, had managed to break his wards.
Tom could admit that he had been arrogant about believing that he would be the only magical being to ever enter Wool's. He stood up and stalked into the building. He roamed the halls until he found a girl from pretty Mary Christine's hall. With a charming smile and unsaid threat he sent the younger girl up to find his prey and send her to him.
Her blond hair shown in the darkness and she smiled tremulously up at him. "You needed something Tom?"
His teeth gleamed white as he smiled. "Only to see the most beautiful girl." He walked forward and took her in his arms. She trembled both in fear and in excitement at his closeness. He knew she had been warned about him as much as he knew that his looks affected her. The conquest would be an easy one. "Come with me?" He whispered and ghosted a kiss on her lips.
She breathed in quickly. "Yes." She said eagerly.
He smiled and led her into the dark basement of the orphanage where he had spent pleasant times with his conquests before. It was all so very easy. He glanced back at the girl. She would pay for the crimes that Mia had committed. She would be punished for his mother who had left him too early.
In a year Mary Christine would be unrecognizable from the pretty and proper girl that she was on this night. This often happened to the muggle women Tom lay with. They would not speak of the incident but they often turned to drink or met bad ends. Tom would not even remember her name.
…..
A month later Hermione woke and stretched her arms. The early dawn light trickled its way through the blue curtains. The past weeks had opened her eyes to a whole new world of possibilities. Though she still missed her parents dearly Hepzibah had kept her days full.
The older witch had told Hermione that they would cohabit for one month before either of them made a decision about her staying for good. In that time Hermione had tried her hardest to show Hepzibah what a help and asset she could be.
She had begun researching and cataloging the manor's antiques. Already she could spot the differences between goblin made and elf, a false copy and whether or not an object held a curse. Her ward and curse breaking abilities had come in handy more than once and had astonished shop owners.
Hepzibah kept her days busy with music and Pureblood etiquette lessons. An herbologist came most afternoons to quiz and teach Hermione on her knowledge of plants. Twice a week she was visited by Albus Dumbledore who was astonished and delighted to see the extent of her wandless magic as well as how well read she was.
Hermione often thanked her parents for the care that they had taken in nurturing her desire to go father in her studies. Many of her female counterparts, at least the muggle ones, only saw schooling as a tool to one day run a household efficiently. Hermione already knew that she hungered for more than this . To her consternation when she had questioned Hepzibah in a non committal way about what was open to witches after graduation she had been told that the expectations were similar to the muggle world.
Hermione rolled over to gaze out the window. She nestled more deeply into her soft pillows. Today she would have no lessons. Hepzibah had asked that she meet her for breakfast and then a talk. Butterflies flitted about her stomach. She suspected that today was the day that Hepzibah would decide whether she wanted to keep her or not.
For her part Hermione wanted more than anything to stay. After the orphanage she was well aware of how brutal the world could be. She could see that with wealth came both power and protection. Hepzibah would not ever harm her. In return Hermione had a deep affection and regard for the older witch. She was extremely intelligent. At times, Hermione noted that Hepzibah would adopt a flirty banter to talk around a subject or to flatter a shop owner for a better price. She couldn't say she particularly liked the behavior but she could see that people underestimated her while Hepzibah neatly navigated situations in her favor. Quickly she sent up a wish that she would be able to call this beautiful place home and the kind woman who owned it her guardian.
...
They sat in the yellow and black parlor once more. Hepzibah sat with perfect posture, regarding the child in front of her. "My dear, as you know I took you on trial to see if we get on well." Her kind eyes crinkled up into a smile when she saw worry pinch at her young ward's features. "You needn't worry, you have managed to exceed my expectations on every possible level."
Hermione's face split into a huge grin. "Do you mean it!" She exclaimed.
Hepzibah held up a hand, her many bracelets catching the light. "Now, now, before you make a decision there are some things that I must tell you about myself. This is as much your decision as it is mine." She leaned over and poured two cups of tea from a willow patterned teapot.
"You would not know it to look at me now but when I was young I was quite pretty, even beautiful. I had been brought up to run a fine household and I wanted nothing more than to catch myself a handsome husband to please." She paused and took a sip of tea.
"My parents were from a respectable Pureblood line, if not an especially wealthy one. Generations of decadent spending had diminished the family coffers considerably. To shore up our fortune my parents decided to wed me, their only child, to the widow Smith. As you can gather he was much older than I. I was horrified and when he passed away of old age just a few short years later I vowed to never again cede my power to a wizard. He wasn't especially kind, you see"
She smiled at Hermione's protective expression.
"When Mr. Smith passed I had a large fortune to my name. I, like my forbears, enjoyed collecting rare and beautiful objects. I also was still young and beautiful." Hepzibah paused, wondering how she could explain her situation to the child.
"You wanted to fall in love?" Hermione asked softly.
The older witch snorted. "Yes, I suppose. I did in fact, fall in love several times over the course of the next decades. No, my child, I desired political power and secrets more."
"Did you have a seat in the Wizengamot then?" Her head tilted curiously.
"No, there is so much more to politics that what you see on the public face. If you stay with me child, you will learn this in time. Now, as I mentioned, I desired political power and secrets and, being a young and beautiful woman many wizards were willing to help me with both."
Hermione started, then blushed. "Hepzibah...were you...a grande horizontale?" She whispered, her cheeks flamed.
The older witch choked on the tea. Hermione rushed to her side and placing a hand on her back she incanted a small charm her mother had taught her. "Better?" She asked.
"Yes, dear. Thank you. Now, how in the world do you know about that term?" Hepzibah demanded.
"I read a lot." Hermione said simply.
"I see. Can't say I'm surprised with a curiosity the size of yours. To answer your question, no, I was not. I simply lived my life as I believed it should be lived in a time when it was not believed proper. I loved many wizards and they loved me in their turn, I believe. With their help I was able to pass muggleborn protection acts and the like. It was my hope to make the British magical world a better place for all. I believe I could have done these things without their help but they certainly made the path easier for me. Now my dear, you must know that there are those who still whisper about my escapades and may look down on you as my ward because of it.
And this brings me to my point. If you wish to stay with me Hermione, I'll want you to know that you can stand on your own two feet. In fact I'll expect it of you. I'll teach you to have all of wizarding society in the palm of your hand. You may marry for love if you wish when the time comes. I do not want the loneliness for you that has come with my choices." Hepzibah examined a large topaz ring on her finger, then looked to the girl. "What do you say to that?"
Hermione, who had been quite enraptured spoke up. "I'd say that it seems we were fated to meet. I'll not disappoint you. And I could never be ashamed of anyone who showed me such kindness."
Hepzibah clapped her tiny hands. "You are the witch I thought you were. I'll tell Griphook to send over the documents this afternoon. You are now officially my responsibility. I'll do my best to guide you and love you. I'll not be like a mother, you already had one of those dear and she did a wonderful job. No, I'll be your ally, your aunt, your guide and your comfort. We will navigate this together, you and I."
Hermione thought about the powerless feeling and hunger she'd had at the orphanage. She remembered how she had mistakenly put her trust into Tom and the pain and lasting curse it had caused her. Never again did Hermione want to be put in those vulnerable positions. She was willing to do a lot to make that a reality. "I'm ready." Hermione said seriously. The two witches smiled warmly at one another feeling for once that the loneliness that gnawed at them was truly at bay.
...
The following week Hermione stood in front of Hepzibah with trusting eyes. The documents had been signed and with the comfort of knowing she was wanted Hermione had flourished.
Now she stood up straight as Hepzibah flitted about her. "Now we begin your true training. I've been watching you dear. You've got an incredibly clever mind but you hold it out on obvious display for all and sundry to see. We shall work on cultivating that."
"What's the matter with people knowing I'm smart?" Hermione demanded.
"It's better to let others show you their true colors before you let them know you are the smartest witch in the room. But never mind that, your manners are impeccable and it is no surprise that you are picking up the Pureblood customs so quickly. I believe you to be a natural born actress. This skill may one day prove useful to you." She continued to circle the child. "Your elocution is perfect, you carry yourself like royalty, fortunate for you, as it is born and cannot be taught. You will be beautiful one day but many witches are beautiful so it is a useful asset but not an extraordinary one."
"Beautiful!" Hermione laughed. Indeed, she had been made fun of for years for her over large teeth and wild hair.
Hepzibah made a noise for her to cease. "This is where we begin. You are destined to be a powerful witch. Magical power is one thing and societal power quite another. Now, Albus would see you attending Hogwart's in the fall. Being a half blood I believe France is a better option for you."
"France!" Hermione's voice scaled up. "Why would I have to go away to school. We only just met. And what do you mean by half blood?"
Hepzibah chuckled. "It's the way of things. You will learn how to wield your magic there. You will also make friends that will carry you through life. I myself attended Hogwart's." Her expression grew somber. "There are those among us who believe that magic should be passed on by two parents from long standing magical families only. Your mother was born of a muggle family. There are those who will mock you for this."
"Whatever for? I'd wager my magic is as strong as theirs." Hermione was indignant.
"And so it is. We will go into this more another day. For now why don't we do this, I shall throw a party to welcome you. You will keep your father's name but to the world you will be known as Hermione Smith. At this party you will meet the scions of society. If you feel that going to school with them would not serve you we will consider the French school." She stood and walked to Hermione. "You've been through so much in your short life my dear. You deserve a chance at some happy school days. As the Granger heiress you will have certain expectations placed upon you. I intend to protect you from them as long as I can."
"I will get to choose?" Hermione asked then sighed. She was used to being ostracized by her peers. She hoped that Hepzibah's warning would be for nothing. "Yes, I'll meet them." She told her, hoping she wouldn't regret it.