Disclaimer - as for all other chapters.
Chapter Five - The Truth about Magickal Genes.
For all her words of the previous night, Hermione looked pale, tired and anxious as she made her way to McGonagall's office. She strictly charged Ron and Harry to wait outside for her, and marched in as bravely as she could.
Her friends sat apprehensively on the chairs outside, kicking thier heels and wondering vaguely what could be happening. Then they heard a scream. They leapt to their feet, the door burst open, and Hermione lauched herself into Ron's arms.
"Oh, no!" she sobbed. "That's what Ron said...they say it's true, my mum... You were right..." Ron patted Hermione awkwardly on the back, managing to look both terrified and gratified at once. Harry stood by uselessly as the room's other occupants followed Hermione out.
"Really, Potter, Weasley, can't we have some privacy?" snapped McGonagall. Hermione sobbed harder and clutched Ron tighter. Eventually, Hagrid herded them into the office, Ron supporting the still crying Hermione, whose tears had begun to soak through his robes. McGonagall told the whole story of Riddle's little trick, and that Hermione, being part giant, would be quite tall.
"How tall?" asked Beth Granger, with creditable calm.
"About 6'2" or so, I reckon." piped up Hagrid. Ron looked relieved, and patted Hermione's shoulder reassuringly.
"Well, that's ok, Hermione. That's how tall my Dad thinks I'll grow, so you won't be taller than me, and, in fact, I'll ask you to the graduation ball with me now, so that you don't have to go with someone shorter than you." Hermione stopped crying at this, and lifted her head from his shoulder to give him a very reproachful look. Ron smiled at her, and she smiled back a little shakily.
"Ok, then." she said. "And if you aren't tall enough, you have to wear high heels." Ron looked properly horrified, and began to remonstrate with Hermione, who began to insist. Beth Granger smiled weakly at her daughter and her friend. Hagrid squeezed McGonagall's hand.
"Gonna be related to th' Weasleys." he said somewhat morosely. McGonagall squeezed back.
"There are worse fates." she assured him, and succeeded admirably in creating a diversion when she performed a hover charm on herself so she could kiss Hagrid.
----
I'm still interested in the implications of Voldemort's responsibility for Hermione, but it seemed unnecessary to tie up the loose end in this story. I do have a future-fic planned (where Hermione is a Resistance Assasin with Sirius Black) so I may explore the issue there. Hope you enjoyed it, feel free to constructively critique my writing style, and watch out for more soon.
Chapter Five - The Truth about Magickal Genes.
For all her words of the previous night, Hermione looked pale, tired and anxious as she made her way to McGonagall's office. She strictly charged Ron and Harry to wait outside for her, and marched in as bravely as she could.
Her friends sat apprehensively on the chairs outside, kicking thier heels and wondering vaguely what could be happening. Then they heard a scream. They leapt to their feet, the door burst open, and Hermione lauched herself into Ron's arms.
"Oh, no!" she sobbed. "That's what Ron said...they say it's true, my mum... You were right..." Ron patted Hermione awkwardly on the back, managing to look both terrified and gratified at once. Harry stood by uselessly as the room's other occupants followed Hermione out.
"Really, Potter, Weasley, can't we have some privacy?" snapped McGonagall. Hermione sobbed harder and clutched Ron tighter. Eventually, Hagrid herded them into the office, Ron supporting the still crying Hermione, whose tears had begun to soak through his robes. McGonagall told the whole story of Riddle's little trick, and that Hermione, being part giant, would be quite tall.
"How tall?" asked Beth Granger, with creditable calm.
"About 6'2" or so, I reckon." piped up Hagrid. Ron looked relieved, and patted Hermione's shoulder reassuringly.
"Well, that's ok, Hermione. That's how tall my Dad thinks I'll grow, so you won't be taller than me, and, in fact, I'll ask you to the graduation ball with me now, so that you don't have to go with someone shorter than you." Hermione stopped crying at this, and lifted her head from his shoulder to give him a very reproachful look. Ron smiled at her, and she smiled back a little shakily.
"Ok, then." she said. "And if you aren't tall enough, you have to wear high heels." Ron looked properly horrified, and began to remonstrate with Hermione, who began to insist. Beth Granger smiled weakly at her daughter and her friend. Hagrid squeezed McGonagall's hand.
"Gonna be related to th' Weasleys." he said somewhat morosely. McGonagall squeezed back.
"There are worse fates." she assured him, and succeeded admirably in creating a diversion when she performed a hover charm on herself so she could kiss Hagrid.
----
I'm still interested in the implications of Voldemort's responsibility for Hermione, but it seemed unnecessary to tie up the loose end in this story. I do have a future-fic planned (where Hermione is a Resistance Assasin with Sirius Black) so I may explore the issue there. Hope you enjoyed it, feel free to constructively critique my writing style, and watch out for more soon.
