AN: Disclaimer's in the Prologue, but I trust you all know the drill.Small
homage to JKR in here, hope she won't mind.I should think she'd be
flattered but then again you never know, brilliant minds like hers.*sigh*
MOURIR
Chapter One
"First Years, Witches, and Snape, Oh My!"
It was near dusk. Hermione her cloak tighter around her slim body as she headed determinedly towards the train platform. The early September day was slightly chilly, the air smelling sweet, as autumn commonly did, but each breeze sent a small shiver skittering through the teenager. Before her, the trees were silhouetted against a watercolour of varying hues ranging from blue to orange.
"Miss Granger!" a voice called after her.
Hermione whipped around to see Professor McGonagall walking briskly towards her, slightly winded. "Miss Granger, the Headmaster would like to see you in his office right now, please. He'd like to speak with you before the Sorting and the Feast."
"Of course," Hermione said calmly; she hadn't done anything wrong that she could think of, she reasoned. It must be something to do with a Head Girl duty. "Thank you, Professor. Please excuse me." She turned back towards the castle.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
"Chocolate frogs. Bertie Bott's Every Flavoured Beans. Salt-water Taffy!" Hermione was getting frustrated; she'd been standing at the gargoyle for a full two minutes now and for some reason, Dumbledore was not aware of her presence. The girl had been reduced to guessing, and for someone who usually knew everything, this was particularly unnerving.
"Marshmallow rabbits!" Hermione shouted at the statue, exasperated enough to try the stupidest things she could think of. The gargoyle swung open and despite her now-sour mood, she couldn't help but laugh.
Making her way up the narrow passageway, the door to Dumbledore's office swung open unbidden. At least he'd saved her some trouble.
"Miss Granger, come in, please. I trust you guessed the password without much trouble?" Albus Dumbledore's twinkling eyes smiled at her from behind his half-moon spectacles.
It was all Hermione could do to stop herself from glaring at him. She nodded mutely. "You wanted to see me, sir?"
Dumbledore, too, nodded, motioning towards a corner. "Valeria, you may come out now."
Hermione blinked. "Sir, there's no one there."
The Headmaster of Hogwarts gave Hermione a look much resembling the tone of voice Ron had used in first year when he'd demanded if she was a witch or not. Hermione shut up, and Dumbledore smiled enigmatically. "Isn't there?" he glanced back, twisting to look in the corner. "Valeria!" he barked - or tried to. It came out more as a semi-stern sounding command.
A stunning red-headed woman seemed to materialise from thin air; her scarlet hair was twisted up on her head, emerald eyes glinting and dancing in the firelight. They were serious but betrayed a hint of humour behind them.
"Miss Granger," the woman - obviously Valeria - said coolly, her voice infinitely silky, but nothing like Snape's somewhat menacing tones. "My name is Valeria Rowling. I am the new Runes Mistress."
Hermione did a double-take, visibly surprised beyond anything she could have imagined. "Valeria R-Rowling?" she stammered. "Descended from the same bloodline that gifted us with J. K. Rowling?"
"Joanne Rowling was my great-great grandmother," Valeria allowed. "The Scottish background tends to manifest itself in Runes, especially in the women - the men tend to have power asserting itself mainly in Charms."
"It's an honour to meet you, Professor," Hermione said politely, shock making her voice small. She cleared her throat, and Valeria smiled warmly.
"Professor Rowling is here for more than just the purpose of teaching, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said, rather absently. "Lemon drop?" he asked, having forgotten to offer one earlier.
"No, thank you," Hermione said.
"One was quite enough, Professor - Albus," Valeria corrected herself. "Thank you.
"Miss Granger, it seems that whilst I was at Oxford University this summer, a prodigy in the mysterious and challenging art of wandless magic had emerged. It seemed that this witch was a novice, yet could perform any number of tasks nearly effortlessly, exploring and discovering new techniques every day. This young witch, who was one year older chronologically than she was physically due to the rather ambitious, I might add, use of a Time Turner in her third year at Hogwarts, was the talk of the University. Graduate students spoke nonstop of her, the professors marveled at her work - this witch, Miss Granger, as I'm sure you've deduced by now, is you.
"Whilst I am, by no means, proficient in the art of wandless magic, as an Auror on reserve, for lack of a better term, it came to my attention that certain Dark Wizards would want your skills for more unscrupulous purposes.
"So, of course, I consulted my runes, and contacted my good friends, Professors Flitwick and Sprout, who informed me that Pr - Albus," she corrected herself again, "was looking for a new Runes Mistress. They suggested that I might come to Hogwarts and help out with..." Valeria glanced suggestively at Fawkes, perched in his own corner. "To help," she amended her word choice, looking fairly satisfied with herself.
"My uncle is our, ah," she looked rather uncomfortable and spiteful all at once, "esteemed Minister of Magic." Distaste flooded her face and Hermione found herself agreeing, if not identifying, with this new professor. " And being from such a prestigious, not to mention pure, bloodline, Voldemort, it seems, would simply adore to have me behind him. Using this information, of course, as well as the fact that my Auror status is not well known - in fact, not known at all, save by you, Albus and three or four people in the applicable branch of the Ministry, I am going to help, with you and with the..." she tilted her head slightly towards Fawkes once more.
"With all due respect, Professors," Hermione began slowly, a puzzled look flitting over her face, "Why are you telling me this?"
"At the end of this year, Miss Granger, I would like to formally extend an invitation to you, in particular, as well as certain other individuals you know, including Professor Rowling, to join our Order. Because you are, for lack of a better term, better acquainted with the Order than she is, and have been at the school more recently, I would like you to assist Professor Rowling out a bit."
Hermione looked apprehensive.
"Oh, I won't be any trouble at all," Valeria insisted, "Don't worry."
Only slightly reassured about this important task, Hermione nodded, a faint blush staining her cheeks, barely visible in the dim light emanated by the roaring fire. "Thank you for your confidence, Professors. I would be honoured."
"Thank you, Miss Granger. I know you'll do just fine." Turning towards Valeria, who was still standing by his desk, he said, "Would you like to head down to the Feast without us? I need to speak with Miss Granger regarding her studies in wandless magic."
"Of course. Thank you again, Miss Granger," Valeria nodded in the direction of the two as she headed out of Dumbledore's office.
Hermione, anticipation flooding her eyes, waved a hand over the cloak she had shed during her journey to Dumbledore's office and sat back, the garment having disappeared from over her arm.
"Miss Granger, I have found you a tutor in Wandless Magic," Dumbledore began, and Hermione knew that this was what she had been awaiting nervously for the entire past week.
Unease and anxiety forgotten, Hermione's eyes shone with happiness and eagerness. "Really?" she queried excitedly, in lieu of the bombardment of questions she yearned to ask; who was it? When could she begin lessons? What would she need?
"Yes, my dear," Dumbledore said. "You will, however, need to ask Professor Snape yourself."
MOURIR
Chapter One
"First Years, Witches, and Snape, Oh My!"
It was near dusk. Hermione her cloak tighter around her slim body as she headed determinedly towards the train platform. The early September day was slightly chilly, the air smelling sweet, as autumn commonly did, but each breeze sent a small shiver skittering through the teenager. Before her, the trees were silhouetted against a watercolour of varying hues ranging from blue to orange.
"Miss Granger!" a voice called after her.
Hermione whipped around to see Professor McGonagall walking briskly towards her, slightly winded. "Miss Granger, the Headmaster would like to see you in his office right now, please. He'd like to speak with you before the Sorting and the Feast."
"Of course," Hermione said calmly; she hadn't done anything wrong that she could think of, she reasoned. It must be something to do with a Head Girl duty. "Thank you, Professor. Please excuse me." She turned back towards the castle.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
"Chocolate frogs. Bertie Bott's Every Flavoured Beans. Salt-water Taffy!" Hermione was getting frustrated; she'd been standing at the gargoyle for a full two minutes now and for some reason, Dumbledore was not aware of her presence. The girl had been reduced to guessing, and for someone who usually knew everything, this was particularly unnerving.
"Marshmallow rabbits!" Hermione shouted at the statue, exasperated enough to try the stupidest things she could think of. The gargoyle swung open and despite her now-sour mood, she couldn't help but laugh.
Making her way up the narrow passageway, the door to Dumbledore's office swung open unbidden. At least he'd saved her some trouble.
"Miss Granger, come in, please. I trust you guessed the password without much trouble?" Albus Dumbledore's twinkling eyes smiled at her from behind his half-moon spectacles.
It was all Hermione could do to stop herself from glaring at him. She nodded mutely. "You wanted to see me, sir?"
Dumbledore, too, nodded, motioning towards a corner. "Valeria, you may come out now."
Hermione blinked. "Sir, there's no one there."
The Headmaster of Hogwarts gave Hermione a look much resembling the tone of voice Ron had used in first year when he'd demanded if she was a witch or not. Hermione shut up, and Dumbledore smiled enigmatically. "Isn't there?" he glanced back, twisting to look in the corner. "Valeria!" he barked - or tried to. It came out more as a semi-stern sounding command.
A stunning red-headed woman seemed to materialise from thin air; her scarlet hair was twisted up on her head, emerald eyes glinting and dancing in the firelight. They were serious but betrayed a hint of humour behind them.
"Miss Granger," the woman - obviously Valeria - said coolly, her voice infinitely silky, but nothing like Snape's somewhat menacing tones. "My name is Valeria Rowling. I am the new Runes Mistress."
Hermione did a double-take, visibly surprised beyond anything she could have imagined. "Valeria R-Rowling?" she stammered. "Descended from the same bloodline that gifted us with J. K. Rowling?"
"Joanne Rowling was my great-great grandmother," Valeria allowed. "The Scottish background tends to manifest itself in Runes, especially in the women - the men tend to have power asserting itself mainly in Charms."
"It's an honour to meet you, Professor," Hermione said politely, shock making her voice small. She cleared her throat, and Valeria smiled warmly.
"Professor Rowling is here for more than just the purpose of teaching, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said, rather absently. "Lemon drop?" he asked, having forgotten to offer one earlier.
"No, thank you," Hermione said.
"One was quite enough, Professor - Albus," Valeria corrected herself. "Thank you.
"Miss Granger, it seems that whilst I was at Oxford University this summer, a prodigy in the mysterious and challenging art of wandless magic had emerged. It seemed that this witch was a novice, yet could perform any number of tasks nearly effortlessly, exploring and discovering new techniques every day. This young witch, who was one year older chronologically than she was physically due to the rather ambitious, I might add, use of a Time Turner in her third year at Hogwarts, was the talk of the University. Graduate students spoke nonstop of her, the professors marveled at her work - this witch, Miss Granger, as I'm sure you've deduced by now, is you.
"Whilst I am, by no means, proficient in the art of wandless magic, as an Auror on reserve, for lack of a better term, it came to my attention that certain Dark Wizards would want your skills for more unscrupulous purposes.
"So, of course, I consulted my runes, and contacted my good friends, Professors Flitwick and Sprout, who informed me that Pr - Albus," she corrected herself again, "was looking for a new Runes Mistress. They suggested that I might come to Hogwarts and help out with..." Valeria glanced suggestively at Fawkes, perched in his own corner. "To help," she amended her word choice, looking fairly satisfied with herself.
"My uncle is our, ah," she looked rather uncomfortable and spiteful all at once, "esteemed Minister of Magic." Distaste flooded her face and Hermione found herself agreeing, if not identifying, with this new professor. " And being from such a prestigious, not to mention pure, bloodline, Voldemort, it seems, would simply adore to have me behind him. Using this information, of course, as well as the fact that my Auror status is not well known - in fact, not known at all, save by you, Albus and three or four people in the applicable branch of the Ministry, I am going to help, with you and with the..." she tilted her head slightly towards Fawkes once more.
"With all due respect, Professors," Hermione began slowly, a puzzled look flitting over her face, "Why are you telling me this?"
"At the end of this year, Miss Granger, I would like to formally extend an invitation to you, in particular, as well as certain other individuals you know, including Professor Rowling, to join our Order. Because you are, for lack of a better term, better acquainted with the Order than she is, and have been at the school more recently, I would like you to assist Professor Rowling out a bit."
Hermione looked apprehensive.
"Oh, I won't be any trouble at all," Valeria insisted, "Don't worry."
Only slightly reassured about this important task, Hermione nodded, a faint blush staining her cheeks, barely visible in the dim light emanated by the roaring fire. "Thank you for your confidence, Professors. I would be honoured."
"Thank you, Miss Granger. I know you'll do just fine." Turning towards Valeria, who was still standing by his desk, he said, "Would you like to head down to the Feast without us? I need to speak with Miss Granger regarding her studies in wandless magic."
"Of course. Thank you again, Miss Granger," Valeria nodded in the direction of the two as she headed out of Dumbledore's office.
Hermione, anticipation flooding her eyes, waved a hand over the cloak she had shed during her journey to Dumbledore's office and sat back, the garment having disappeared from over her arm.
"Miss Granger, I have found you a tutor in Wandless Magic," Dumbledore began, and Hermione knew that this was what she had been awaiting nervously for the entire past week.
Unease and anxiety forgotten, Hermione's eyes shone with happiness and eagerness. "Really?" she queried excitedly, in lieu of the bombardment of questions she yearned to ask; who was it? When could she begin lessons? What would she need?
"Yes, my dear," Dumbledore said. "You will, however, need to ask Professor Snape yourself."