A/N Are we having a good week? I had this sitting ready and I thought, 'Why Not?' I am so happy to have reached a hundred follows. I'd like to know what you think. Please stay safe in the coming weeks. I do not own this world. Love, Lark
Objects of Beauty Chapter 6
"Hepzibah? Which Hogwart's house did you belong to?" They had been sitting by the fire after supper. Hermione was reading up on the two schools with the books she had found in the library. Truthfully she preferred what she had read about Hogwart's but knew that Tom would be there.
Hepzibah had been tallying the acceptances to Hermione's introduction tea. A giggle escaped her at the question. "Go to that cabinet over there." She indicated one of the many glass fronted cabinets. "Tell me what you see on the second shelf."
Hermione did as she was bade. "I see a badger and a snake." It was the same badger figure that she had noticed earlier. Next to the badger sat a much smaller and less ornate snake. Indeed, it was such a simple statue that Hermione wondered at it being in such a place of honor. Not only was the statue of the snake unimpressive, it also appeared to be ill tempered. It lashed out in sneaky ways at the badger who appeared to be unperturbed by the reptile's antics.
"I was sorted into Slytherin house. The first in nine generations. We are direct descendants of Helga Hufflepuff you see. When that happened my father bought that little snake to sit beside the badger. A reminder to me, I suppose, to not get too drawn in to the mechanizations of Slytherins." She laughed again. "It was unfortunate for him that I happened to like to play with politics. Fortunately I favored the ways that would have made Hufflepuff proud to call me family."
"Would I be a Hufflepuff, do you think?" She watched as the badger snapped at the cowering snake. "I think my bloodline discounts me from Slytherin house, does it not?"
"Oh no, there have been a fair few half-bloods in that house. It's not usually a comfortable experience for them. No, I don't believe you to be Hufflepuff material. I think Ravenclaw would suit you though Gryffindor might fit you better somehow."
"You think so?" Hermione's eyes were shining. "My mother went through Gryffindor. I asked Professor Dumbledore. And my father was a Ravenclaw."
"I do. You have show a remarkable amount of bravery in the short time we have know one another. Now, I've just completed the guest list. Let me tell you a thing or two about the families who are coming. Listen well child. Each and every person you will meet will be an important part of the British Magical world someday as were their parents before them. It will be your choice as to whether you like them enough to want to school with them or if you would like to meet them later as an adult. They will be a part of your life either way. I expect you to learn about them and to be able to move through their circle. Though I dare say you will see them here and there for social functions over the years." Hepzibah eyed the list thoughtfully. "Mostly Slytherins." She muttered.
"Will I be a lion in a pit of snakes then?" Hermione laughed.
"Maybe so." The older witch replied, though she did not laugh.
...
Guests filtered past them shaking hands and greeting Hepzibah. It had been almost an hour and Hermione was relieved to hear that the last guests had just arrived. She felt like a bug under a microscope. Many of the guests had scanned her from head to toe before nodding coldly and moving on. She looked down self consciously. Hepzibah had dressed her simply. Her hair had been vaguely tamed but not done up in the way that the other girls who filtered past her had looked.
Where the other young ladies looked to be on the cusp of womanhood, Hepzibah had chosen to keep Hermione looking like a child. She had no way of knowing that Hepzibah had done this on purpose. The last family came to greet them. Hepzibah held out a hand. "Mr. and Mrs. Parkinson, what a pleasure to see you. And look! You've brought dear Pansy."
An unpleasant looking couple shook hands with Hepzibah. The woman and her daughter looked like carbon copies but at different ages. Hermione was sure that their noses had turned up so unattractively after generations of shunning those they thought beneath them. It was clear that whatever their standards were Hermione did not make the cut.
"Ah, this must be Hermione, your new charge." Mrs. Parkinson studied her and then turned to Hepzibah. "What an interesting choice Heppi. I can only assume that there is more to her than what one sees."
Hepzibah giggled in response. "Yes, well, wonderful to see you. And that color of gown is such an interesting choice with your pale skin." She gave a Hermione a gentle shove. "Dear, why don't you go with Pansy, she can introduce you around?" They turned to gaze at the girl who looked as if she had eaten something unpleasant.
Reluctantly the pug nosed girl nodded. She indicated that Hermione should follow and they walked away to let the older witches exchange subtle barbs and false niceties. When they were out of earshot Pansy turned to her. "Is it true then? Did old Hepzibah really find you lost and alone in the muggle streets, half crazed?"
Hermione had been cautioned to keep her name and details vague nodded. "Something like that." She murmured.
The other girl's nose crinkled and her brown eyes shown with cruel amusement. "How interesting." She said delicately. With mincing steps she led them to a group around their age.
A slight boy with a pointed face and hair so blonde it was almost white seemed to be holding court at the center. "My father says that Grindlewald is the leader we need. He'll soon put everyone in their proper place." He drawled. Hermione had been following Grindlewald's exploits and political movements. She shuddered at the open support that this boy was showing. Instead of arguing loudly as she wanted to she kept quiet, waiting to hear more.
"Yeah, Draco, and by everyone's proper place you mean your father as Grindlewald's right hand man." A tall, elegant boy snorted. The blonde boy looked pleased. This would be the Malfoy heir, she told herself. Hepzibah had informed her that the Malfoy's were perhaps the most influential family in Great Britain. She had also cautioned Hermione that they looked down on her kind. Now as she looked at the pale smirking boy Hermione recognized a spoiled bully when she saw one. She had met his kind often enough in the past. She had also gathered that this was not a boy to anger.
A slightly older boy with sandy brown hair and jaded eyes noticed the pair at the edge of the group. "Hey there Pans, who've you got there?"
Hermione wanted to tell Archie Rosier that they had met only fifteen minutes ago. Perhaps short term memory loss was an affliction of Pureblood youth?
"This is Hermione...er...Smith is it now?" Pansy smirked.
"Yes, the foundling." Malfoy's eyes perused her from head to toe. "I don't understand." He turned back to the others. They laughed sycophantically.
"Excuse me, what don't you understand?" Hermione demanded. She couldn't help herself. Carefully she schooled her emotions as Hepzibah had begun to teach her.
Malfoy turned back to her. He narrowed his silver eyes disdainfully at her. "Do I need to spell it out Smith? You are a muggle born mess who has somehow wormed her way into the graces of a witch I can only assume has been addled by old age." His lip curled as he took in her hair. "You're out of your league here." He told her and turned away, dismissing her entirely. As he did two larger boys the approximate shape of a pair of boulders laughed and shouldered her out of the circle.
Hermione was fuming, this boy was more vile than she could have imagined. Recalling Hepzibah's instructions, she turned away herself and continued to wander the room. Besides, she was used to her peers shunning her by now.
"Yes, Riddle has been telling me of the Slugclub I expect I'll be asked to join." A whip thin boy her age was speaking to an older girl with long blonde hair wearing a sparkling pink dress. She froze. In all the changes that had occurred in her life she had neglected to think that Hogwart's would house Tom Riddle. It still irked her that she could not disclose a thing about their encounter in the alley. His presence alone had her looking more favorably to Beauxbatons. She sidled closer to the pair to hear more about Riddle. "He'll be made head boy I expect. Father had him tutoring me this summer. He's quite brilliant."
"I agree." Said the girl breathlessly. "It's a pity he wasn't invited today. Not that Madam Smith's pathetic orphan is anything worth coming out for." The girl shrugged as she scanned the room. Catching Hermione's eyes she colored and turned away.
A tall fair boy came barreling up to her next. Spots littered his cheeks. He glared down at her. Since he seemed intent on intimidating her with his presence Hermione sighed and spoke. "Hello, you're Zacharis Smith aren't you?"
"That's right." He said. "I'm Hepzibah's nephew and heir to the Smith fortune."
"How nice for you." Hermione smiled.
"Think it's funny? Look, I'm sure you're a nice girl, but all I'm saying is that if you've got your eye on the prize it won't happen. I don't know you and my family will owe you nothing if Hepzibah goes." He stopped speaking and dared her with his eyes to argue.
"I understand completely. Thanks for informing me." Hermione curtsied gracefully to the other boy's astonishment. She wouldn't shame Hepzibah by showing her temper. It had not occurred to her that the Smith family would be angry about her being taken under Hepzibah's wing.
"Hello there." A pleasant voice interrupted. "I'm Bill Weasley." A young man with a shock of red hair had appeared. He gave Zacharis a dismissive nod. "Smith, your mother is looking for you." Zacharis glared at them and stocked off. Bill watched him go. "Having a pleasant conversation were you?" He arched an eyebrow.
"Not as such." Hermione stared down at her plain black shoes. She met his eyes and could sense that she'd found a friend of sorts. "I had been cautioned that these families might not be accepting of me. However, I had hoped..."
Bill glanced around the room. "That they would display basic manners?" He smiled knowingly. "They are pleasant enough to one another I suppose. Give it time. They'll warm up to you. It's a poor choice of people old Hepzibah decided to invite today. Not everyone is like this. I hear that you were brought up muggle. My father adores muggles. Tell me, what has it been like with the war on? The airplanes I mean."
She soon found herself in a lively conversation about the the dual wars that were playing out on English soil and what the sentiments behind them really meant. "I'm not really sure things like race or muggleborn really matter to the people at the top." Hermione told him. "It's about redirecting the attention so that they can grab the power while no one is watching and turning us against one another. Divide and conquer, as they say. Sadly it's very easy to convince one man to hate the next because he has just a tiny bit more. I've a theory about this..." And on they went.
Several witches and wizards joined them as they took their tea. To their astonishment Hermione kept pace with them intellectually though they were several years older. Her parents had taught her to debate and to consider all sides equally. Her mind had the sometimes irritating habit of retaining everything she read in almost minute detail.
When the tea was done and the guests began to file out Hepzibah was pleased to speak with them. "What a brilliant young mind you have found." Madam Bones told her. "I'd like to have her meet my granddaughter."
Bill was the last to leave. "I'm so happy to have met you Miss Granger. If you do go to Hogwart's in the fall look out for my brother, Ron, he'll be in your class. I hope I see you again soon. I work with Griphook did you know? He was right about you."
"I didn't! Please send my regards." Hermione smiled. "I've so many questions about Gringott's I hope we do meet again.
Thank you, for making this gathering a pleasant one for me." She said shyly.
"Well now, it wasn't such a hardship. Don't let a few snide comments deter you Miss Smith." He bowed and departed.
...
"Well then, what did you think of the tea?" Hepzibah asked. They were sitting in the library that evening. Hermione had wanted to ask her about some of the more delicate books.
She thought about it. "I enjoyed speaking with Bill Weasley." She said honestly.
"Ah, the Weasleys are of good stock. Poor as henge mice I'm afraid but there you have it. He's a nice young man. Head Boy in his year if I'm not mistaken. Did you meet any children your age?" She pushed.
"I did." Hermione played with the hem of her robe.
"And? What did you think?"
She thought about the cruel words carelessly thrown her way. Tom Riddle flashed in her mind and she pushed him aside. It was clear that he was admired as much as she would be ostracized. "And I think I'd like to go to Beauxbaton's please."
"I see. Dumbledore will be disappointed not to mentor you himself. I assume the Malfoy boy had his say? Such and unpleasant boy, always was, such an unfortunately pointed face." Hepzibah patted her hand. "Don't take it to heart dear. They aren't ready to see your value yet. When they finally do, just remember who you can trust." Hermione nodded. She didn't know how to tell Hepzibah that she had no interest in seeing any of the children that she'd met today again. The Malfoy boy had been especially odious. She reckoned she'd do a lot to not cross paths with him again.