A/N: Here we go! Freshly prepared latest chapter!

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Morning broke, and Harry raced to his parents room, throwing open the curtains.

'Off with his head!' shouted James in his sleep.

'Wake up dear,' said Lily, shaking him. 'Our son has something to tell us.'

'Mother, Father, I want to build a university with the biggest library in Europe where anyone can study regardless of their social status.' Said Harry, now swinging on the four poster bed.

'All right,' said James after a shell-shocked silence. 'Who are you and what have you done with my son?'

Harry grinned and gave his mother a smacking kiss on the cheek, before walking out. 'Oh, and by the way, I want to invite the gypsies to the Ball.' He said as he left.

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Something very hard poked Hermione in the side. She winced and opened her eyes, drowsily. Standing over her was Elizabeth, Marguerite and Jacqueline. Elizabeth held a broom in her hand, which was obviously what poked her.

'Are you sick?' demanded Elizabeth.

Hermione stretched and rubbed her eyes. 'No . . . yes . . .' she said, pulling the blanket over her head.

Elizabeth pulled it down again. 'Where were you?' she said sharply.

'I got lost.'

'I don't believe you. I think you are hiding something from me, and I demand to know what it is!' shouted Elizabeth, her temper increasing rapidly.

Hermione yawned. 'Why don't you just tell me so I can go back to sleep?'

Jacqueline stifled a laugh which she hastily turned into a sneeze.

'What about our breakfast?' cried Marguerite in outrage, placing her hands on her hips.

'You have to hands. Make it yourself.' Snapped Hermione. Jacqueline stifled another laugh which brought Elizabeth's attention onto her.

'Why you lazy leech!' shrieked Marguerite.

'Jacqueline, go boil some water.' Said Elizabeth immovably. 'I'll deal with you later.'

Jacqueline opened her mouth in shock. 'I knew it, I just knew it!' she muttered, before leaving.

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Hermione was not much disturbed the rest of the morning, and when she finally was dressed and ready, Molly ran into her room. 'Hermione, you'd better come see this.' She said, panting. 'Come.'

Hermione followed her into the attic, where Marguerite was holding her mother's dress in front of her, admiring herself in the mirror. Elizabeth was adjusting it, and Jacqueline was crossing her arms behind them sulkily.

'Oh look who finally decided to grace us with her presence.' Said Elizabeth airily.

'What - what are you doing?' asked Hermione slowly.

'Do you honestly think after your performance this morning that you would be allowed to go anywhere?' said Elizabeth smoothly.

'It's disgusting, the way you hunt royalty down like it's some sport. Do you think these schemes, these plots will win you a crown?' demanded Hermione hotly.

'You're just jealous.' Sniffed Marguerite.

'Those are my mothers!' said Hermione stiffly, angry bubbling up inside of her, though she contained herself as best she could, picking up both of her mother's shoes.

'Yes.' Said Marguerite. 'And she's dead.'

Suddenly all the anger Hermione had been bottling up all these years went loose, she walked up to Marguerite, and with a shaking hand, slapped her right across the face.

Marguerite, squealing like a pig, dropped the dress and hitched up hers, running out of the room. Hermione chased after her, Elizabeth tottering behind them while Jacqueline watched in dismay.

'I'm going to tear your hair out!' Hermione screamed, chasing her in a room. Marguerite jumped onto the bed, and Hermione followed in hot pursuit. Wasting no time, she pushed her off the bed. Down Marguerite fell, head over heels, before finally running towards the fireplace. 'Mother!' she screamed. 'Mother do something!'

The fireplace where Hermione had been reading Utopia, two nights ago.

Panting, Marguerite caught sight of the tattered book, and picked it up, holding it towards the flames. 'Get away from me so help my God.' She said.

Hermione backed away slowly, clutching the shoes that she held. 'No, Marguerite, don't! Put it down!'

'Give me the shoes.' Said Marguerite, holding the book threateningly above the flickering flames.

'Please,' said Hermione desperately. 'Put it down!'

'Think carefully, Hermione.' Said Elizabeth coolly. 'Your father's book or your mother's shoes, though neither will save you from a sound lashing.'

Hermione glanced from the book to the shoes. Utopia, the last book her father had brought back, from the last night she saw him. It was more than a book to her. It was part of her soul. Shaking, she handed the shoes to Elizabeth's outstretched hands.

Marguerite smiled and threw the book into the flames, spitefully.

'No!' cried Hermione, tears filling her eyes, she knelt in front of the fireplace. Elizabeth caught hold of her pulling her away as she struggled. Jacqueline shook her head sadly, and Marguerite flounced away. 'No.' she whispered.

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An hour later, Hermione was lying on her bed, her dress completely unbuttoned, with deep gashes across the smooth tan skin of her back. She winced as Jacqueline carefully applied a wet cloth to it, cleaning the wounds. She had be forbidden to help her using magic and all the potions were locked along with her wand by Elizabeth to prevent temptation.

'I don't know what's come over me.' Said Hermione quietly, flinched at the pain.

'First with breakfast and that horrid display downstairs.' Said Jacqueline in her gentle, soothing voice. 'Although, I don't think I'll ever forget the day Marguerite's feet went over her head like that. And she was wrong to talk of your mother in that way.

'Thank you.' Said Hermione, her voice sounding a little choked-up, a bit overwhelmed by Jacqueline's kindness.

'Marguerite's always been the beautiful one. When I was little I wished that I could be like her.' said Jacqueline.

'Thank heaven you're not, Jacqueline.' Said Hermione sincerely. 'But I don't think Marguerite is beautiful. I think she is ugly. And weak, and poor despite her riches. Her heart made of coal. Yours is made of gold.'

Jacqueline continued to tend to Hermione's wounds and they remained in silence. The tentative friendship that never had the chance to develop was cemented.

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A/N: There we go! Short chappie, I know, but I wanted end it there! Next chapter may be up eventually!