Chapter 1
Nott Manor - September 10, 1985
She couldn't go anywhere. She knew it. As she grew older, she became more and more aware that probably no one knew about her existence. She didn't understand it at first. It was only later that she noticed that the way she was treated wasn't normal. Theo was taken to parties. Theo might have had friends. Theo, at the age of three, was engaged to a witch whose name she couldn't know.
It was on the day of his engagement that she found out that something was wrong. According to their father, she didn't deserve to know something that didn't concern her. She tried to accept it.
For as long as she could remember, she could only move around the property. But more often she could only be in her room. There were numerous parties on the grounds of Nott Manor and Hermione was supposed to be invisible.
Over time, she became perfect at being invisible.
Her only consolation was her brother. She wasn't important to either her father or her mother. For Theo, she had value.
She heard a knock on the room. She wasn't sure if she wanted to see anyone. The intruder had left her no choice. Wrapped up in bed, completely covered with a cord, she heard someone enter, despite no answer. After a while, she felt someone enter her bed and put an arm around her.
"I think I already know why they treat you this way." - her brother's voice was full of anxiety - "After lunch I heard our parents talking about you. I had to wait until evening to sneak out and come talk to you."
Hermione discovered herself and looked into Theo's pure blue eyes. - "What did you hear?" - The girl tried to prepare for the blow.
"Mum said she didn't want anyone to know that their firstborn was a Squib." - after a short break he added. - "I guess they're ashamed that you don't have magic..."
"But it's not my fault. It's not my fault your magic has shown up and mine hasn't." - She felt tears gathering in her eyes.
The boy put his hand to her cheek. - "You don't understand. They think you don't have magic at all."
Silence fell between the two siblings. Hermione snuggled into the arms of her younger brother, who was already taller than her now. She knew what this suspicion meant. Cut off from the family. Oblivion. Death in life.
"Will you remember about me when they give me away?"
The boy's eyes flashed with fear. It didn't take long, but it was so long that she had time to notice it. He didn't say anything. She figured he didn't know how to answer her question. He looked into her eyes and then just tightened his arms in an embrace. Before she knew it, she fell asleep beside the only human who cared about her. However, she was unaware that this was the last time it had happened.
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He woke up worried. It was the first time it had happened. He held out his hand for Hermione and she wasn't there. He was convinced she had gone to the library. Before breakfast, she always went looking for a book for the next day. With a smile on his face, he got up, put on his slippers and went where he expected to find his sister.
"Hermione!" - he shouted as soon as he opened the library door.
To his surprise, there was no answer. Unlike the library at Malfoy Manor, the library at their manor house wasn't extensive. There weren't many places in it where his sister could hide herself.
After an hour, it turned out that she wasn't there. Theo decided to go to his parents. They should to know where she was.
He hadn't expected to run into his father after he left the library. He quickly asked the question. - "Where's Hermione? I can not find her."
Father knelt down to catch his eyesight with him. There was anger in his eyes. "Hermione isn't here. And she won't. Remember, son... You didn't, you don't, and you will never have a sister. Forget you ever had one."
After the wizard got up, the little boy clenched his fists and promised himself that if his sister died, someone would pay for it with death.
Thorus Nott left his son unaware that he had sealed his fate. He himself should know best how strong the bond between his two children was.
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Orphanage - October 31, 1985
Today was another open day at the orphanage. Hermione was made clear in the first few days that she had little chance of being adopted at her age. Even though she had just turned six, she was too old for that. Most would-be parents wanted babies.
This is why she put on a simple dress and tied her hair in a classic braid. She took the book and went to the Visiting Room. She looked impassively at the other children and sat down in the armchair by the window. She opened the book and began reading Sense and Sensibility again. She tried to focus on the words in front of her eyes. She knew that no one would be interested enough to talk to her.
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They had been married for over five years. Most of the time, they tried to enlarge their family. With no effect. This is why they first decided to check the cause of their failures and, after the diagnosis of bilateral infertility, they agreed for adoption.
From the collected opinions, they learned that the Wool's Orphanage is the best facility in the area. Apparently, the situation of this place has changed a lot over the years and it was a completely different facility than years ago. Richard and Helen Granger, holding hands, entered the place where they hoped to find a child that would be at least in part similar to them.
Upon entering the building, they were greeted by a plump, fiery-haired, middle-aged woman. The redhead smiled and said something that resembled a strict rule. Richard thought that she was either new to the job or tired of the job. Her voice was hesitant and bored at the same time.
"Welcome to the Wool's Orphanage on the Open Day. We are aware that our methods may seem controversial at first glance. However, we believe that a very important factor in adoption is the understanding between the future parents and their future child. There are children from 1 to 10 years old in the Audience Hall. If you want an older child, you will have to talk to the manager. Younger children are in a different room..."
The woman continued, unaware that the couple had stopped listening. Disgusted, Richard leaned towards his wife and whispered in her ear. - "It feels like an animal shelter."
Helen, perplexed, hoped that the woman hadn't heard her husband. - "Calm down, because I will give Crookshank your bacon from tomorrow's breakfast."
The man smiled. He loved to watch this bossy, all-knowing brunette get nervous. After all, it was her temperament that he fell in love with. If he had only to look at her appearance, her hair, which looks like a lion's mane, would scare him away. They were unmanageable in their youth. Now they were flowing down her back in gentle waves.
"I'm sorry honey."
Upon entering the Hall, Helen knew they had a difficult day ahead of them. She didn't want to make a hasty decision. However, she quickly realized that it was fate that had decided for her. The moment her gaze fell on the girl sitting in the armchair, she knew that she was just looking at her child. She grabbed Richard by his forearm and said one sentence. - "Who is that girl sitting by the window?"
The red-haired woman was clearly surprised by her question. - "Hermione. This is Hermione Nott. She came to us recently. She is polite and calm. He spends a lot of time with books. The woman who gave her away to us wanted us to change her name. We are in the process of changing that. She is to take the surname White-Evans."
"You may not need to carry out that procedure. We'd like to talk to her." - Richard knew the interview would only be a formality. Regardless of what problems they may experience in adopting a girl so similar to his wife, the decision has already been made. He watched as his future daughter sat engrossed in reading the book. He was curious what she was reading.
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"I wish, as well as everybody else, to be perfectly happy; but, like everybody else, it must be in my own way. " - Hermione whispered the words she knew would become her motto.
Surprised, she discovered that a red-haired woman who introduced herself to her as Hannah Smith was walking towards her with a couple of adults she didn't know. She felt ashamed that there was hope in her heart. Hope that they aren't coming towards her, but going to talk with her. Feeling the blush spread across her face, she tilted her head down. She didn't want the older girls to see that she was naive. Naivety was a weakness. And weaknesses weren't tolerated in this place.
Mrs. Smith's voice broke her out of her thoughts. She looked at her and saw a woman with amazing eyes. They were brown just like hers. Brown in a shade of dark chocolate. Why did she resemble her more than her biological mother?
"Hermione... They want to talk to you." - She said it in a tone of voice indicating that she didn't believe that this couple wants to meet her.
She got up and bowed. - "Good morning. My name is Hermione."
The woman with wavy hair smiled and asked. - "Did you know that Hermione was the daughter of Helena of Troy?" - She extended her hand towards her. - "My name is Helen Granger. And this is my husband. Richard."
The man's eyes were the same shade of eyes that was characteristic for her brother. She missed Theo. She missed him so much. Richard Granger was tall and well built. Better than the men who show up at Nott Manor. Certainly better than the blonde who would sometimes bring her brother's friend.
"We know it's fast, but something about you attracted my beloved wife." - His voice was unusually deep. - "We'd like to know you. And if you agree, take you with us."
She didn't know what to answer. She had no hope of getting out of this place. She hoped her life would be better than the boy who kept the diary she found in her room. Tom has had a hard life. There was hope in her heart that perhaps her life would be a little better. She felt her eyes fill with tears and nodded before falling into the open arms of the woman who wanted to give her family.
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How do you like this chapter? It hasn't been in this story before, so those who've read this before may be surprised at the change in direction of the story. Regards, katie-krum