A/N Update time! As I mentioned, the next few chapters will just be little snippets of the characters growing up. Please review. I'd love to hear what you think. We only have a few more chapters until the story earns it's "M" rating. I hope that you are having an "As good as it can be for 2020" holiday season. I myself have attempted and failed yet again to make cookies. They look like delicious chocolate turds. Appropriate. Anyway, I don't own this world. Wishing you well, Lark.
Objects of Beauty Chapter 9
Winter 1946
"And then I told Father and he's going to have the bloody Hippogriff terminated." Malfoy boasted to the group of laughing Slytherins. He caught a pair of hazel eyes glaring at him from the back of the crowd. Noting his attention on her she smoothed her face into a bland expression. They were at the Greengrass' annual ball. At thirteen years of age young witches and wizards were allowed to attend the annual solstice ball until midnight.
Hermione slipped away, disgusted. Thankfully Neville was in attendance and they had a lovely time twirling around the floor until his grandmother called him to her. She smiled fondly at Augusta's vulture topped hat. Alone again she walked the perimeter of the room listening in on conversations as she passed and greeting acquaintances.
Suddenly she stopped dead in her tracks and the color fled from her face. Tom Riddle stood in front of her. He was speaking earnestly to a collected group of witches and wizards. She noted that Lucious Malfoy was one. That day in the alley when he tortured her still haunted her dreams. She imagined he still wanted those cursed objects of his that she had hidden. Hermione did not imagine that he had become kinder in the years that had passed. The candlelight from the sconces on the walls kissed his features. More than a few women in the collected group looked ready to fall at his feet. If only they knew what Hermione knew. Beyond that beautiful facade was a monster. He looked up laughing and she tensed. Although she looked different than when he had known her, Hermione would take no chances. Quickly she stepped through an open door to the balcony beyond.
She crept over to a darkened corner and tried to catch her came out in tiny puffs of air in the chilly night. The stars above shown clearly and she mapped the constellations as she attempted to calm herself. It had been silly to think she wouldn't run into him again. She tried to take deep breaths to ease the trembling in her body. If he had made it to this gathering then Tom Riddle was doing well for himself indeed. She wondered if the Purebloods surrounding him knew of his humble origins.
"What are you doing out here? Decided to be merciful and hide your ugly face so as not to offend the rest of us." A familiar voice drawled.
Hermione rolled her eyes. This was all she needed. At wit's end she ignored Hepzibah's rule of politeness and whirled on Malfoy.
"What's it to you where I go or what I do?" She growled.
Malfoy's eyes lit with malicious glee at having gotten a rise out of her at last. "Anyone who cares about their world wants to dispose of the trash that litters it." He opined.
"Parroting you're father, I assume. Malfoy, I haven't the time for you. Especially as you take great delight in destroying a rare and innocent animal to cover your own stupidity." She tried to stalk away but Malfoy grabbed her arm.
"What are you talking about." He hissed.
"I know the professor warned you not to insult a Hippogriff and you went and did it anyway. I hear it was because you didn't approve of the professor's assistant for being half giant. You're petty and you're cruel." She told him, his eyes widened. "In fact, for all you're talk of my inferiority you've never wondered if I care what you think. I don't. You are a vile human on every level and you disgust me." She spat and ripped her arm from his grip.
He glared at her a moment and then smiled. "I'll think a happy thought for you, Smith, when the axe comes down on that Hippogriff's neck while that great oaf blubbers. Don't go around thinking you're safe. Remember who I am and who my family are. Times are changing, and not In your favor, you'll see." He smirked.
Hermione seethed. "I'll always remember who and what you are you vile, evil little cockroach." Her fist shot out and connected with his nose with a satisfying crunch. His head snapped back on impact. Slowly he brought a hand up to touch the blood that had begun to trickle from his nose. Not waiting for a reply, she skirted around the two boys that she believed were called Crabbe and Goyle. They stared dumbly from her to Malfoy as she passed.
...
"You did what?" Hepzibah looked astonished after Hermione had confessed. She thought about it and then laughed in great gusts until tears trickled down her face. "I believe that we will take you out of circulation for the summer season to let things smooth over. Will that suit you?" She giggled again. "Perhaps you've improved that impossibly pointy nose of his!"
Hermione sighed in relief. "I'll bear it the best I can she joked."
Hepzibah became serious. "It isn't a bad idea altogether. I've been hearing rumors of the most alarming nature in regards to muggleborns. There is a new dark power forming but no one I speak to can put a name to it. We are still in dark times I fear. I'm always glad to know that you are safe in France."
Hermione looked at the kind witch who had loved her as her own and shivered. She worried about her as well.
...
Winter 1947
Hepzibah gasped as Hermione stepped from the train fresh from France. In the few short months she had last seen her the girl's looks had changed dramatically. Her body had slimmed, losing the sturdiness of childhood. Her hair had calmed and the curves of her young body were beginning to develop. Hepzibah's heart gave a skip of sadness as she realized she missed the scrappy orphan she had found in Knock Turn Alley. One wouldn't recognize them as the same young woman if one didn't know better.
"Here, let me look at you." Hepzibah said. Hermione smiled at her. "Your teeth! What have you done?"
"I was accidentally hit in the mouth with an enlarging curse and when I went to the healer to get it fixed she told me to tell her when my teeth were the right size. I just let her carry on a bit." Hermione looked a bit sheepish. She wasn't vain but it had been nice to have her teeth at a regular size.
"I had hoped to wait a year or two but it looks lovely. Now, let's go home." Hepzibah linked her arm with Hermione's. "I've picked out the perfect gown for the Hogwart's ball."
"I cannot wait to see Harry!" Hermione laughed. "Let's see if those dance lessons you made him go to last summer will pay off."
Hepzibah laughed. "He is a dear boy. So gifted on the quidditch pitch and so clumsy on the dance floor. Well, we can't have everything. Still, I hope that you will have a wonderful time."
There was a wistful tone to the older witche's voice and Hermione glimpsed sadness in her eyes. "What is it?" She asked gently.
"Oh, it's old age and other things catching up to me." Hepzibah patted her arm. "Another time."
...
Hermione flooed over to Hogsmeade where she was met by a carriage, pulled by what she assumed, was an invisible Thestral.
Harry was standing at the entrance looking very dapper in his green dress robes. His face lit up when she alighted from the carriage. "Hermione!" He took her in. "You clean up well!" He said, astonished.
"I take your look of shock as a compliment." She laughed. The gown that Hepzibah had chosen was periwinkle blue. It floated about her body in dreamy waves, clinging and flaring artfully. Her hair had been tamed into an elegant chignon, the bright gold strands running through the darker brown. Threads of real gold had been added to enhance the effect.
"You really do look nice." He told her earnestly.
Hermione put her hand on his arm. "Show me your school then. And then take me dancing. We'll have such a good time that Cho Chang will turn green with envy and rue the day she turned you down."
Harry blushed. "Well, she is going with Cedric who is Hogwart's champion. It's kind of hard to beat that."
They took a quick tour of the main areas of the school. In the trophy room Hermione stumbled as she noted a large plaque, awarded for special services to the school. The name written on it was Tom Marvolo Riddle. Of course he would be celebrated. She remembered his cold good looks and charming smile. Making a note to find out more about Riddle she turned away to find Harry watching her.
"You alright?" He glanced over to the plaque. "He was head boy my second year. Slytherin house. Someone told me that he got that because he found out that Hagrid, you know, the one who Dumbledore hired to assist the games keeper and the care of magical creatures class? Anyway, they said that he discovered that it was Hagrid who had been raising a beast in the castle that caused a student to be killed."
Hermione thought about this. "I highly doubt that Dumbledore would hire someone responsible for such a thing. It sounds like there is more to that story." She said, troubled.
They wandered up to the great hall where the dance was to be held. Hogwart's had been the center of attention this year. After the fall of Grindlewald the schools had decided to band together and create a Triwizard tournament. It was meant to foster friendship across country lines. Of course, it was also a crushing competition where loyalties ran high.
Madam Maxine had been devastated when she learned of the age limit. She had wanted Hermione to be considered. It was often said at Beauxbatons that Hermione was the brightest witch of her age.
In fact, it was often a wonder to Hepzibah what the two cousins found to talk about all day, every day. Hermione was all books, intentional acts of both kindness and magic while she had heard that Harry was incredibly brave, athletic and would often impulsively put himself in danger to protect another. It was in fact, these differences that drew them closer together.
Hermione's large hazel eyes grew even more as they entered the great hall. An enchanted ceiling twinkled with stars. Candles floated gently over the crowd, providing a soft, golden light.
Many people looked up when they entered. The tour of the school had taken longer than they anticipated, most of the attendants were already seated for dinner. Hermione could see that her cousin was well admired by more than a few of the the female population. Of course, Harry hadn't noticed this. She planned to tease him about it later.
"There, Ron's saved us a seat." Harry indicated the glum redhead who was dressed in robes that had definitely seen better days. An angry witch sat with her arms crossed next to him. "Ah, looks like Padma and he are not hitting it off."
"Hmmmm, it appears not." Hermione laughed. "Let's go and save them, shall we?"
...
Draco has been having a decent enough night. He had escorted Pansy as was expected of him. They had enjoyed trading malicious bits of gossip through the evening. In a stroke of good luck (or a subtle threat to the house elves) Pansy had arranged to have them seated next to Victor Krum. Along with being the Durmstrang champion he was also the youngest and most able seeker that the National Quidditch leagues had seen in decades. It irked him that the surly Bulgarian had taken to flying with the loathsome Potter boy. A fact which had his father roiling.
Draco hoped to form some sort of connection tonight. The Krum family was one of the oldest in Bulgaria and a powerful one. A friendship between the two would go a long way to soothing his father's often volatile temper. He had just been expounding the virtues of his family's Manor in hopes of inviting the boy to visit over the holidays when Krum gasped.
"Who is that?" He demanded.
"Who?" Pansy asked, craning her neck.
"That girl with the Potter boy. I haff not seen her at Hogwart's. I vould haff remembered her." Krum's eyes were fixed on the girl.
"Well, that's... oh my, that's Hermione Smith. She goes to Beauxbatons." Pansy was aghast.
Draco's head snapped around. It was Smith. She had changed since last year. A lot. His jaw dropped as he took in her appearance. He had noticed her eyes of course, tiny rainbows of browns,gold and green. She had always appeared plain, buck toothed and bushy haired, yet this was the same girl. She was exquisite. Quickly he tamped down the thought. His nose still smarted at times from their last encounter. "She is of muggle birth." He told Krum helpfully.
The Bulgarian turned cold eyes at him. "These things do not matter so much to me." He told Draco stiffly.
The witch from Beauxbatons that Krum had escorted for the occasion piped up. "Ermione Smith eez zee smartest witch in zee whole school." She told them her eyes flashing loyally. "Eet was a pity for us zat she was too young to compete." She sniffed. "Fleur eez very good but zere would be no question of zee champion if she had been of age." She turned to Krum. "So my friend, is eet no wonder zat none of the girls here hold your attention. Your tastes run to something more rare." The witch seemed to approve if this.
Draco had been shocked into silence over this news. Smith has been so reticent to speak of her schooling in the past with the Slytherins. They had all assumed it was because she was a mediocre student at best. Of course, now he thought of it, she had been very adept at steering the conversation far away from herself. That is, if he and his group bothered with her at all. He watched as she glided through the room on Potter's arm. He had not been aware that they knew one another. They certainly didn't run in the same social circles. He noted how many wizards in the room were drawn in by her.
"Well, I think she looks perfectly ridiculous. Who does she think she is?" Pansy muttered by his side.
"Quite." Draco agreed but could not seem to pull his eyes from her.
As soon as the golden plates cleared from the tables Krum stood, and mumbling a quick apology to his amused date he hurried off to Potter's table. "I ope zat zee Potter boy knows he eez in for some competition." The witch said with an arched brow.
...
Hermione had been startled when the Bulgarian champion approached the table. Harry had mentioned that they sometimes flew together. As he was older and an internationally recognized quidditch star Hermione had not expected to speak with him.
Now she was dancing for an unprecedented third time in a row with Krum. He was surprisingly easy to speak to. Their talk moved effortlessly between school, politics and their hobbies. Viktor was actually delighted that she knew so little about quidditch. Now she noticed a circle of witches casting jealous glances their way.
"I'm worried that I may be hexed if we continue dancing." She nodded at the nearby witches.
Krum scowled and pulled her a little closer. "I'm enjoying your company." He said plainly.
"And I yours." She told him honestly. "However, I should probably dance with Harry and I'm sure a fourth dance would not be proper."
"You are right, I suppose. I vouldn't vant anyone to judge you harshly." He muttered and relinquished her. "I vill find you later." He promised. He held her hand and bowed to her as the flash of a camera bulb went off.
She smiled, thanked him, and went to find Harry. Her cousin was deeply amused. "Wow, Hermione, I though he'd never let you go. Half the witches in the castle have been trying to get his attention for weeks. What did you do to the poor bloke?"
Hermione laughed and swatted his arm. "Stop! He's actually very nice."
"My apologies." Harry did an overblown bow. "May I have this dance Miss Smith?" He asked in plummy tones.
"I'll step on your toes if you step on mine?" Hermione laughed.
Draco had been fighting his way through the crowd when he spied her. The gold in her hair sparkled in the candle light. She glanced his way and inexplicably broke out into a radiant smile. Two things occurred to him at once. He had never seen her smile. He had never given her a reason to. Gracefully she made her way toward him, her dress floating about her.
Thinking that perhaps he could let the memory of their last meeting go if she was so obviously willing Draco bowed low to her as she approached, only to have her breeze past. Neville Longbottom of all the ridiculous people had been standing behind him. He watched, gobsmacked as the two greeted one another happily and then made their way to the dance floor. Theo and Blaise had witnessed the affair and broke out into raucous laughter. His cheeks flamed with shame. His eyes narrowed as he watched her throw her head back and laugh at something Neville had said. "Mudblood." He whispered to himself but the word gave him no comfort.