Chapter Five- A New Beginning
Hermione stretched her arms in the winter sun. The Christmas holidays were only a few days away, and she was glad. Teaching was a lot harder than it looked.
Things were certainly looking up. Over the past two weeks, her visits to Ailie had taken up a lot of her time. There was still no place for the Wiccan witch to stay, and sitting in the infirmary all day had to be boring. It would be better once the students were gone for the summer, and it was safer for Ailie to wander about. After all, Voldemort thought she was dead.
With time, the two girls were becoming close friends. Ailie's thirst for information on the cultures she was discovering matched Hermione's own curiosity, and Hermione was having fun introducing her new friend to the ins and outs of muggle and wizarding culture. Along the way, she was learning a considerable amount of Wicca theory and practice, and had a fascination for this new type of magic. The friendship was also helped along by the mutual feeling of being an outsider in the wizarding world; Hermione, although she had lived there for eight years, was finding it easy to talk to the Wiccan girl about her feeling of loneliness. Besides, it had been a long time since she had found a girl of her own age she could feel comfortable talking to.
She was also visiting Hagrid with a fair amount of regularity, and was pleased that their friendship had remained unchanged. She had always loved Hagrid, and after all the turmoil of the last few years had felt as though he was family. Sitting with him in his hut was like coming home.
Hermione sighed and sat further back on the stone bench, wrapping her warm cloak more tightly around her. She really missed Harry and Ron. She was only just coming to understand how much leaving school had affected her. When she had been at school, in her younger years, one of her uncles had laughingly told her, 'You don't want to grow up, little champ. Being in school is the best time of your life.' She hadn't believed him- this was something adults told children often, and children never understood why. Now, she believed him with all her heart. She had been in such a hurry to grow up, be mature, that she had never noticed how wonderful being a kid was.
After seeing Ron and Harry all day, every day for all but two months of a year, she missed their company intensely. Being with Hagrid brought back some of that feeling; not much, but just enough to make Hermione realise she had to start living her life again.
A giggle sounded behind her, and she felt a whoosh of breeze as a snowball flew past her ear. Another splattered on her back. Startled, she stood up and looked around, only to see a small group of young Griffindor and Hufflepuff students giggling behind their hands. The students were on the verge of finishing their first year, and hadn't lost their childish sense of fun. With laughing eyes, Hermione sent them a mock glare, which sent them into even more giggles.
A strong voice rang out over the lawn, startling them all.
'Ten points from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff for assaulting a teacher!' Severus Snape strode over the lawn to them, a scowl firmly placed on his face. Hermione inwardly cringed. She knew that look well. Obviously, Snape had been forced outside to monitor the children, and was wanting to take it out on anyone who dared cross his path. She saw the children's faces fall, and got up, brushing the grass from her robes with as much dignity as she could manage.
She drew a deep breath. In their last conversation, Hermione had mentioned to Ailie her feelings as a student teacher. Ailie, who had noted Hermione's behaviour around the other teachers, had given her a pep-talk, though it had only restated something Hermione knew for herself: if she didn't start acting like a teacher, no one would treat her as one.
Hermione knew that she had to start with Snape, simply because he was the most difficult. If she couldn't force herself to stand up to her old Potions Master, she could never walk the halls of Hogwarts with her head held high.
'Professor Snape,' she began, disheartened my the pitiful squeak in her voice, 'these children weren't really doing any harm-'
The professor cut her off with a raised eyebrow. Surveying her with a sneer, he abruptly turned, stalking across the lawn toward another group of students.
Hermione sighed. He hadn't even paused to listen to her.
With a small smile, Hermione looked over at the group of first-years, all of whom were fidgeting and looking at the ground.
'Ten points to Gryffindor and Hufflepuff for having the sense to enjoy the sunshine,' she said in a kindly tone, and was gratified to see the woebegone looks on the children's faces disappear. As they thanked her and ran off to play, she looked after the swiftly retreating Snape. There were some people who would never enjoy the sunshine, no matter what encouragement they were given.
***
Albus Dumbledore put his empty cup down on its saucer, and looked about with a pleased smile. It was a beautiful day, unseasonably warm, and the sun beat gently down on the secluded terrace. He looked back to his companion, Minerva McGonagall, with a smile.
'I agree,' he said, answering her last question. 'Now, the only difficulty we have is introducing the girl to the rest of the school without causing suspicion.'
Minerva adjusted the brim of her hat, shading her face from the weak winter sun. Unfortunately, her skin was of a disposition that burnt at the slightest hint of sunshine.
'My mind has been dwelling on that,' she answered. 'I believe that Hermione's friendship with the poor girl may provide us with an answer.'
Dumbledore smiled at the mention of one of their mutual favourites. Although, to be completely truthful, most students that passed through the halls of Hogwarts were the favourite of the old wizard, Dumbledore was pleased that Miss Granger had decided to make a return to Hogwarts after graduating. Over the years, with her various escapades with her young friends, he had grown to be quite fond of the girl.
Minerva had a particular soft spot for Hermione, he knew. His old friend had found a sparking intelligence in the girl that matched her own.
Dumbledore drew his attention back to his companion, eyebrows raised in encouragement.
'Well,' continued Minerva, 'The closeness the two girls have formed over the last few weeks has given me an idea. I thought,' she said, taking a small sip of her cooling tea, 'that Hermione could introduce Ailie as her cousin.'
'What a wonderful idea!' said Dumbledore, conveying the impression that it was the best he had ever heard. Minerva smiled. Sometimes, her friend's childlike love of things was touching.
'Well,' she said, finishing her tea and putting it down, 'We shall see if it can be put into action over the summer.'
Her companion nodded, and summoned a tray of biscuits from the tea table. He offered her one, before taking a bite of his.
In companionable silence, the two wizards sat in the sun and contemplated the day.
***
Hermione sat on Ailie's bed, browsing through a magazine. The other girl had wanted to know more about general muggle and wizard culture, and Hermione, remembering Lavender and Parvarti's obsessions with such things, had ordered a few magazines in.
The effect they were having on the two girls was undoubtedly not what the publishers had intended, with Hermione occasionally exclaiming, 'Oh, I can't believe they'd use such language as that!', and Ailie chuckling over the letters sections.
'I cannot believe this!' she exclaimed. 'This witch here is actually writing in to ask what positions she should try for-'
'Let me look at that!' squeaked Hermione, with uncharacteristic girlishness. They had been looking at the magazines for the better part of an hour, and Ailie's giggles were catching. She read the rest of the letter, and broke into fits of laughter. Just when she had begun to calm down, she caught Ailie's eye.
'With a hose?' Ailie said incredulously, referring to the advice witch's reply. This set both of them off again.
Finally, Hermione caught her breath again, and pulled herself up. Both of them had ended up flat on their backs, in the helpless way of those caught in giggles. She wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye and picked up another magazine.
She was startled by the discreet cough that came around the curtain, and looked up to see Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall waiting patiently. quickly, she put the magazine aside and jumped down from the bed, embarrassed.
McGonagall moved forward with a gentle smile, and looked at both of the girls.
'I think we may have a plan for introducing our guest to the school,' she said.
Hermione looked at her eagerly. It had been some weeks since Ailie had arrived at the school, and Hermione could sense that the girl was impatient to extend her world beyond the confines of the infirmary. For her own part, Hermione was itching to introduce Ailie to her life; showing her around the castle, seeing her reactions to people. The library, she was certain, would entertain the enthusiastic girl almost as much as it intrigued herself.
Dumbledore stepped forward, and motioned for Hermione to take a seat. She did, and glanced at Ailie a little nervously.
'It is, of course, desirable to have our young guest here more comfortably settled here at Hogwarts,' he began, with a warm smile at Ailie, who smiled back. Hermione had noticed that Ailie's initial coldness toward Dumbledore had melted with further acquaintance. The old wizard continued, 'However, since our friend Tom Riddle believes you to be dead, Ailie, I have felt it more advisable to keep your existence here a secret.' Ailie nodded. 'Therefore, letting Ailie out amongst the students at large would not be a good idea.' Here, he turned to his old friend to continue.
'We have decided that the best way for Ailie to stay would be for her to be here as somebody's relative,' the witch said in her usual straight- forward manner. 'Hermione, we thought it best, since you and Ailie have become such good friends, to ask you.'
Hermione felt a little taken aback at first, but recovered and looked quickly at her friend. Ailie seemed to show no revulsion at the thought of posing as her relative; in fact, her friend looked positively delighted. Hermione gave in to the feeling and grinned herself.
'I would love it,' she said. 'I mean, it would be an honour.'
Both professors grinned.
'Wonderful,' Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling with pleasure. 'In that case, with a few preparations, Ailie can begin her life in the castle almost immediately.'
McGonagall sent him a slightly wry glance before interrupting, 'Although it will not be quite as simple as that, of course. We will have to make a few preparations. A background for Ailie, for instance, and a name.'
'Well, even we don't know Ailie's proper name,' said Hermione.
'You wouldn't be able to pronounce it anyway,' Ailie answered with a shrug. 'Why don't I just take Hermione's last name?'
'Well,' said McGonagall with a slight frown. 'That would be the most obvious way. However, we would need to take some other precautions. There may be some people who would be interested in a new resident of Hogwarts suddenly appearing in these times.' Ailie raised an eyebrow and looked at Hermione, who nodded.
'My father has some cousins in Scotland,' she said. 'I'm certain if I owl him he can arrange a story with them.'
McGonagall nodded. 'That would account for part of Ailie's strange accent, as well, although it's not one that I can place, I'm sure.'
Ailie grinned. 'I think we have our own. My mama always said... well, she didn't know anyone who had the same accent.' The girl looked down briefly. When she looked up again, her face was composed, but her eyes were shining.
Dumbledore coughed, and stepped forward. 'Well,' he said in a solemn tone, 'now we can at least get Ailie here settled, away from the infirmary. Unless Miss Granger has any objections?'
'No, of course not,' answered Hermione automatically, concerned for her friend. She looked at Dumbledore, puzzled. 'Objections to what?'
'It would be best if Ailie moved into your rooms,' answered McGonagall, smiling gently.
'We will extend them, of course,' added the old wizard beside her.
Hermione sat down, a little taken aback. It had been a few years since she had had to share rooms with someone. As of her fifth year, when she had become a prefect, she had moved into a private room, away from the dormitory. After only a few years spent sharing with others, she had relished having her own space. And, while she was beginning to be friends with Ailie, she still didn't really know her well.
Ailie sensed her friend's trepidation.
'Uh- living together might not be such a good idea.' She shrugged. 'I'm not really used to living so close to anyone- I've had my own hut since I was about fourteen-'
Dumbledore chuckled. 'I wouldn't worry too much about that, dear girls. We have plans.'
McGonagall smiled. 'If you have time, we will show you right now.' She looked at Dumbledore, who nodded. The old wizard led the way to the infirmary's fireplace, and threw in a pinch of floo power from a box in his pocket.
'Hermione Granger's quarters,' he said, and with a chivalrous gesture indicated for McGonagall to step in before him.
Hermione and Ailie followed, looking at each other with puzzled glances.
An hour later, Ailie and Hermione were sitting on Ailie's new couch, in Ailie's new quarters, exhausted. Though McGonagall and the headmaster had both initiated the plan, they had needed Hermione's help with many of the complex spells. For Ailie's part, the new experience of moving furniture around had drained what energy she had recuperated. Dumbledore and McGonagall calmly sat and sipped tea in front of them, looking quite pleased with themselves.
Ailie looked around her new residence. It was light and airy, all polished wood and cream, with brightly coloured furniture adding some excitement. The two older wizards had cringed at the younger girl's extravagant choices, but she had been undissuadable. Though she had never decorated before, she knew what she wanted, and was happy with it.
She watched as Hermione summoned a cup and the teapot, and grimaced. The ease with which these people wielded wand and spell was frightening. They never seemed to respect the consequences of their actions, or even acknowledge them.
Their ignorance of consequences did have some advantages, however, she considered as she settled back into the plump red couch. She had stood amazed as the three wizards had created an entire new set of rooms, magically altering the space inside Hermione's existing rooms and placing a complicated spell upon the door. Ailie didn't quite understand how it worked, but she now could access her own, private rooms via Hermione's door with her own special password, without ever having to go inside Hermione's space. Essentially, the girls would be only neighbours, while it would appear that Ailie was staying in Hermione's rooms.
It was the perfect solution. The two young women could live their lives as they wished, yet were close enough to visit. The complicated door system also added to Ailie's safety, if the need should arise; the set of rooms, in reality, didn't exist. It was another of the things that Ailie didn't completely understand, but Dumbledore had told her it was best not to think about it.
Ailie watched Hermione delicately sip at her cup of tea, and felt her mouth go dry. A cup of tea- black, with two sugars, that would really hit the spot. She frowned. This wasn't like her. She had never drank a cup of tea in her life, and here she was positively... lusting after one. And there was another thing...
She groaned, and rubbed her forehead. She was getting a headache, and she never got headaches. It was a big one, too, almost like a migraine...
Hermione looked at her with concern, as did the other two wizards. Ailie missed the knowing look McGonagall and Dumbledore shared.
'Are you all right?' Hermione asked. Ailie nodded, and groaned at the pain that lanced through her head.
'I'll get you a headache potion, we have plenty in stock,' said McGonagall, rising.
'I think I will be okay, if I can just have a cup of... tea?' Ailie asked, wincing. 'No, just black, thanks. Two sugars,' she said, as Hermione reached for the teapot and milk. The other girl raised an eyebrow, but complied.
McGonagall sat back down as Ailie took a first sip.
'Yuk,' Ailie said, pulling a face. She took another sip, and a look of relief came over her face. She looked up, to see the other three looking at her with varying mixes of curiosity, puzzlement, and amusement.
'Severus will be finishing his class soon, Minerva,' said Dumbledore, quietly, folding his hands in his lap.
'Yes, I'll take him a potion directly,' said the professor absently, looking at Ailie curiously. 'I never knew...'
'Yes, well,' interrupted the headmaster. 'Just see if you can get him to take it, will you?' His colleague nodded at this obvious dismissal, and, with nods at the two girls, left the room.
Hermione looked at the door, then back at Dumbledore, confused. 'What,' she asked, 'does this have to do with Professor Snape?'
'Hmm? Oh, nothing, my dear, nothing at all. He just usually gets a headache around this time of day, that's all,' answered the headmaster, rising to leave. 'Well, I will leave you two ladies to get settled in, then.'
They watched him go, and Hermione turned to her friend. 'What could that have been about?'
Ailie sighed, looking down into the now cold tea. She was afraid she knew.
***
Over the next few days, Hermione watched her friend closely. Although Ailie was unable to wander about the school until the students left, being in her new rooms was an improvement on the infirmary. Here, Ailie could at least see the grounds of Hogwarts, from her window overlooking the lawn. Also, now that she was almost back to her old strength, she was able to exercise quietly in her rooms. Apart from that, the various books and items that Hermione brought her each day were enough to keep the curious girl occupied.
However, there were times that Hermione felt her friend was not herself. Though she had not known her long, Hermione instinctively felt that the odd moods her friend exhibited from time to time, and the occasional dry remark, were out of character. At times she was almost... Hermione couldn't put her finger on it, but it was odd.
One evening, the night before the term was due to end, the pair were sitting in front of the fire in Ailie's sitting room. Having dealt with as much of the wizarding world as she could without actually taking Ailie out into it, Hermione had decided to show Ailie some of the theory that students at Hogwarts learnt. They had been discussing the various aspects of arithmancy. Hermione had been talking at length, almost to herself, about one of the problems in Arithmancy that had always puzzled her, when Ailie snapped at her.
'I would have thought, Hermione, that with a brain such as yours you could have grasped the rather obvious answer to this quandary.'
Hermione took the comment in, and with a frown set her book aside. She turned to face her friend.
'Right,' she said, mentally pushing her sleeves up. 'Ailie, is something wrong?'
Ailie looked back at her, her face drawn. 'Um... not anything that I really want to talk about.'
'I think you need to talk about it. For the past three days, ever since you moved in here, in fact, you've been acting... well, snappy. There has to be something wrong.' Hermione paused, waiting for an answer. When none was forthcoming, she sighed. 'I knew it. You're annoyed that I hang around so much. I'll just-'
Ailie stayed her hand, reaching out to stop Hermione from gathering up the books lying around them. 'Hermione, really, it's not you. I like having you around. I really do,' she added, seeing her friend's sceptical look. 'I've really enjoyed having a friend around. It keeps my mind off, well, everything.' Hermione shot her an understanding look, and Ailie slid back into her chair. 'I just... Well, I know what's wrong, but I don't really want to talk about it. Really,' she added, at Hermione's look of hurt.
'If there's something wrong, I want to help you,' Hermione said quietly.
'No. You can't. Not everything can be solved by your massive intellect, Miss Granger.'
Hermione's eyes widened. Those words almost echoed ones uttered years ago, and the tone was exactly right. I have no time for insufferable know- it-alls, Miss Granger. Those words had come like a slap to the face, many years earlier. And now Hermione knew exactly what Ailie's problem was.
'You're channelling Snape!' she cried. Noting Ailie's look of puzzlement, she clarified, 'You're taking on his behaviour.'
Ailie's face crumpled slightly. 'That's what I was afraid was happening.' She sighed, and looked into the fire with a pensive air.
Hermione stared, fascinated. Now that she could see it, she didn't know how she had managed to miss it. Ailie's jaw was set in exactly the way Snape often looked when he was feeling frustrated and thought no-one was looking. She had noticed it in the staff-room often. And the way her shoulders hunched-
Whoa, there Hermione, she thought, giving herself a mental shake. Since when had she noticed so much about Snape, evil Snape that everyone hated, Snape that had tortured herself and her friends for seven long years? Hermione set that aside for later contemplation. Much later.
'Ailie, there has to be a cure for this. We can't just let you turn into Snape,' she said, patting her friend comfortingly on the shoulder.
Ailie shook her head. 'As I told you, the only way out of this is for my coven and his coven to perform the ceremony. He doesn't have one. And neither do I, anymore.'
Hermione frowned with concern. 'Ailie. You can't think like that.' The girl hadn't said much about her coven, even after all their talks, and that, perhaps, had been the greatest sign to Hermione that her friend had been worried about their lack of contact. Dumbledore had people out trying to track them down, but the group of Wiccans were nowhere to be found. It seemed almost as if they had vanished from the earth- or, more likely, had magically altered the landscape to cover up the entrance to their hide-out. Hermione was leaning toward the latter. If she had had a psychic link to someone who had been tortured and killed by Death Eaters the way Ailie's parents had, she would have done everything she could to cover her tracks.
'Yes, I can, Hermione. If they were out there, I would feel them. They've either purged me, or they're dead. I'd rather believe the former.' Ailie's tone was cold, but the eyes she turned to Hermione held a plea in them. Hermione went over and knelt by her chair.
'You can't believe that, Ailie, either of those solutions.' She took Ailie's hand in hers, studying the fine skin on the strangely cold hand. 'I know that you have to consider that, possibly, one of those things has happened to your coven. But you can't accept them as truth until we've ruled out all the possibilities, Ailie,' she said, looking into her friend's eyes, willing her to believe. 'You can't give up on them so easily, or believe that they'd give up on you. We will find what happened to them.'
Ailie stared into her eyes, fighting to regain control. Hermione could almost see Snape slithering beneath her friend's skin, and felt a surge of anger at the man. Just because he wanted to be a lonely outcast who could depend on no-one, it didn't mean that her friend should have to suffer such loneliness as well.
'Ailie, we will find the answers. I promise I will help you until we can.'
A slice of pain went through the other girl's eyes at the words, and her jaw clenched against the tears that brimmed in her eyes. Hermione, not knowing what to do, remembered Molly Weasley. The woman seemed always to believe that anything could be fixed by a good hug, no matter who it was- even someone possessed by a grumpy old recluse. Without much experience in the area, Hermione decided it couldn't hurt.
Ailie's body was stiff and cold as Hermione timidly wrapped her arms around her. Gaining confidence, Hermione hugged tightly, willing whatever strength she could to her friend. Slowly, the other girl relaxed, wrapping Hermione in a hug that almost squeezed the life out of her. As Ailie broke into deep sobs, Hermione rubbed her back, her brow furrowed in thought.
She wondered whether this was the way Severus Snape felt every night.
Hermione stretched her arms in the winter sun. The Christmas holidays were only a few days away, and she was glad. Teaching was a lot harder than it looked.
Things were certainly looking up. Over the past two weeks, her visits to Ailie had taken up a lot of her time. There was still no place for the Wiccan witch to stay, and sitting in the infirmary all day had to be boring. It would be better once the students were gone for the summer, and it was safer for Ailie to wander about. After all, Voldemort thought she was dead.
With time, the two girls were becoming close friends. Ailie's thirst for information on the cultures she was discovering matched Hermione's own curiosity, and Hermione was having fun introducing her new friend to the ins and outs of muggle and wizarding culture. Along the way, she was learning a considerable amount of Wicca theory and practice, and had a fascination for this new type of magic. The friendship was also helped along by the mutual feeling of being an outsider in the wizarding world; Hermione, although she had lived there for eight years, was finding it easy to talk to the Wiccan girl about her feeling of loneliness. Besides, it had been a long time since she had found a girl of her own age she could feel comfortable talking to.
She was also visiting Hagrid with a fair amount of regularity, and was pleased that their friendship had remained unchanged. She had always loved Hagrid, and after all the turmoil of the last few years had felt as though he was family. Sitting with him in his hut was like coming home.
Hermione sighed and sat further back on the stone bench, wrapping her warm cloak more tightly around her. She really missed Harry and Ron. She was only just coming to understand how much leaving school had affected her. When she had been at school, in her younger years, one of her uncles had laughingly told her, 'You don't want to grow up, little champ. Being in school is the best time of your life.' She hadn't believed him- this was something adults told children often, and children never understood why. Now, she believed him with all her heart. She had been in such a hurry to grow up, be mature, that she had never noticed how wonderful being a kid was.
After seeing Ron and Harry all day, every day for all but two months of a year, she missed their company intensely. Being with Hagrid brought back some of that feeling; not much, but just enough to make Hermione realise she had to start living her life again.
A giggle sounded behind her, and she felt a whoosh of breeze as a snowball flew past her ear. Another splattered on her back. Startled, she stood up and looked around, only to see a small group of young Griffindor and Hufflepuff students giggling behind their hands. The students were on the verge of finishing their first year, and hadn't lost their childish sense of fun. With laughing eyes, Hermione sent them a mock glare, which sent them into even more giggles.
A strong voice rang out over the lawn, startling them all.
'Ten points from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff for assaulting a teacher!' Severus Snape strode over the lawn to them, a scowl firmly placed on his face. Hermione inwardly cringed. She knew that look well. Obviously, Snape had been forced outside to monitor the children, and was wanting to take it out on anyone who dared cross his path. She saw the children's faces fall, and got up, brushing the grass from her robes with as much dignity as she could manage.
She drew a deep breath. In their last conversation, Hermione had mentioned to Ailie her feelings as a student teacher. Ailie, who had noted Hermione's behaviour around the other teachers, had given her a pep-talk, though it had only restated something Hermione knew for herself: if she didn't start acting like a teacher, no one would treat her as one.
Hermione knew that she had to start with Snape, simply because he was the most difficult. If she couldn't force herself to stand up to her old Potions Master, she could never walk the halls of Hogwarts with her head held high.
'Professor Snape,' she began, disheartened my the pitiful squeak in her voice, 'these children weren't really doing any harm-'
The professor cut her off with a raised eyebrow. Surveying her with a sneer, he abruptly turned, stalking across the lawn toward another group of students.
Hermione sighed. He hadn't even paused to listen to her.
With a small smile, Hermione looked over at the group of first-years, all of whom were fidgeting and looking at the ground.
'Ten points to Gryffindor and Hufflepuff for having the sense to enjoy the sunshine,' she said in a kindly tone, and was gratified to see the woebegone looks on the children's faces disappear. As they thanked her and ran off to play, she looked after the swiftly retreating Snape. There were some people who would never enjoy the sunshine, no matter what encouragement they were given.
***
Albus Dumbledore put his empty cup down on its saucer, and looked about with a pleased smile. It was a beautiful day, unseasonably warm, and the sun beat gently down on the secluded terrace. He looked back to his companion, Minerva McGonagall, with a smile.
'I agree,' he said, answering her last question. 'Now, the only difficulty we have is introducing the girl to the rest of the school without causing suspicion.'
Minerva adjusted the brim of her hat, shading her face from the weak winter sun. Unfortunately, her skin was of a disposition that burnt at the slightest hint of sunshine.
'My mind has been dwelling on that,' she answered. 'I believe that Hermione's friendship with the poor girl may provide us with an answer.'
Dumbledore smiled at the mention of one of their mutual favourites. Although, to be completely truthful, most students that passed through the halls of Hogwarts were the favourite of the old wizard, Dumbledore was pleased that Miss Granger had decided to make a return to Hogwarts after graduating. Over the years, with her various escapades with her young friends, he had grown to be quite fond of the girl.
Minerva had a particular soft spot for Hermione, he knew. His old friend had found a sparking intelligence in the girl that matched her own.
Dumbledore drew his attention back to his companion, eyebrows raised in encouragement.
'Well,' continued Minerva, 'The closeness the two girls have formed over the last few weeks has given me an idea. I thought,' she said, taking a small sip of her cooling tea, 'that Hermione could introduce Ailie as her cousin.'
'What a wonderful idea!' said Dumbledore, conveying the impression that it was the best he had ever heard. Minerva smiled. Sometimes, her friend's childlike love of things was touching.
'Well,' she said, finishing her tea and putting it down, 'We shall see if it can be put into action over the summer.'
Her companion nodded, and summoned a tray of biscuits from the tea table. He offered her one, before taking a bite of his.
In companionable silence, the two wizards sat in the sun and contemplated the day.
***
Hermione sat on Ailie's bed, browsing through a magazine. The other girl had wanted to know more about general muggle and wizard culture, and Hermione, remembering Lavender and Parvarti's obsessions with such things, had ordered a few magazines in.
The effect they were having on the two girls was undoubtedly not what the publishers had intended, with Hermione occasionally exclaiming, 'Oh, I can't believe they'd use such language as that!', and Ailie chuckling over the letters sections.
'I cannot believe this!' she exclaimed. 'This witch here is actually writing in to ask what positions she should try for-'
'Let me look at that!' squeaked Hermione, with uncharacteristic girlishness. They had been looking at the magazines for the better part of an hour, and Ailie's giggles were catching. She read the rest of the letter, and broke into fits of laughter. Just when she had begun to calm down, she caught Ailie's eye.
'With a hose?' Ailie said incredulously, referring to the advice witch's reply. This set both of them off again.
Finally, Hermione caught her breath again, and pulled herself up. Both of them had ended up flat on their backs, in the helpless way of those caught in giggles. She wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye and picked up another magazine.
She was startled by the discreet cough that came around the curtain, and looked up to see Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall waiting patiently. quickly, she put the magazine aside and jumped down from the bed, embarrassed.
McGonagall moved forward with a gentle smile, and looked at both of the girls.
'I think we may have a plan for introducing our guest to the school,' she said.
Hermione looked at her eagerly. It had been some weeks since Ailie had arrived at the school, and Hermione could sense that the girl was impatient to extend her world beyond the confines of the infirmary. For her own part, Hermione was itching to introduce Ailie to her life; showing her around the castle, seeing her reactions to people. The library, she was certain, would entertain the enthusiastic girl almost as much as it intrigued herself.
Dumbledore stepped forward, and motioned for Hermione to take a seat. She did, and glanced at Ailie a little nervously.
'It is, of course, desirable to have our young guest here more comfortably settled here at Hogwarts,' he began, with a warm smile at Ailie, who smiled back. Hermione had noticed that Ailie's initial coldness toward Dumbledore had melted with further acquaintance. The old wizard continued, 'However, since our friend Tom Riddle believes you to be dead, Ailie, I have felt it more advisable to keep your existence here a secret.' Ailie nodded. 'Therefore, letting Ailie out amongst the students at large would not be a good idea.' Here, he turned to his old friend to continue.
'We have decided that the best way for Ailie to stay would be for her to be here as somebody's relative,' the witch said in her usual straight- forward manner. 'Hermione, we thought it best, since you and Ailie have become such good friends, to ask you.'
Hermione felt a little taken aback at first, but recovered and looked quickly at her friend. Ailie seemed to show no revulsion at the thought of posing as her relative; in fact, her friend looked positively delighted. Hermione gave in to the feeling and grinned herself.
'I would love it,' she said. 'I mean, it would be an honour.'
Both professors grinned.
'Wonderful,' Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling with pleasure. 'In that case, with a few preparations, Ailie can begin her life in the castle almost immediately.'
McGonagall sent him a slightly wry glance before interrupting, 'Although it will not be quite as simple as that, of course. We will have to make a few preparations. A background for Ailie, for instance, and a name.'
'Well, even we don't know Ailie's proper name,' said Hermione.
'You wouldn't be able to pronounce it anyway,' Ailie answered with a shrug. 'Why don't I just take Hermione's last name?'
'Well,' said McGonagall with a slight frown. 'That would be the most obvious way. However, we would need to take some other precautions. There may be some people who would be interested in a new resident of Hogwarts suddenly appearing in these times.' Ailie raised an eyebrow and looked at Hermione, who nodded.
'My father has some cousins in Scotland,' she said. 'I'm certain if I owl him he can arrange a story with them.'
McGonagall nodded. 'That would account for part of Ailie's strange accent, as well, although it's not one that I can place, I'm sure.'
Ailie grinned. 'I think we have our own. My mama always said... well, she didn't know anyone who had the same accent.' The girl looked down briefly. When she looked up again, her face was composed, but her eyes were shining.
Dumbledore coughed, and stepped forward. 'Well,' he said in a solemn tone, 'now we can at least get Ailie here settled, away from the infirmary. Unless Miss Granger has any objections?'
'No, of course not,' answered Hermione automatically, concerned for her friend. She looked at Dumbledore, puzzled. 'Objections to what?'
'It would be best if Ailie moved into your rooms,' answered McGonagall, smiling gently.
'We will extend them, of course,' added the old wizard beside her.
Hermione sat down, a little taken aback. It had been a few years since she had had to share rooms with someone. As of her fifth year, when she had become a prefect, she had moved into a private room, away from the dormitory. After only a few years spent sharing with others, she had relished having her own space. And, while she was beginning to be friends with Ailie, she still didn't really know her well.
Ailie sensed her friend's trepidation.
'Uh- living together might not be such a good idea.' She shrugged. 'I'm not really used to living so close to anyone- I've had my own hut since I was about fourteen-'
Dumbledore chuckled. 'I wouldn't worry too much about that, dear girls. We have plans.'
McGonagall smiled. 'If you have time, we will show you right now.' She looked at Dumbledore, who nodded. The old wizard led the way to the infirmary's fireplace, and threw in a pinch of floo power from a box in his pocket.
'Hermione Granger's quarters,' he said, and with a chivalrous gesture indicated for McGonagall to step in before him.
Hermione and Ailie followed, looking at each other with puzzled glances.
An hour later, Ailie and Hermione were sitting on Ailie's new couch, in Ailie's new quarters, exhausted. Though McGonagall and the headmaster had both initiated the plan, they had needed Hermione's help with many of the complex spells. For Ailie's part, the new experience of moving furniture around had drained what energy she had recuperated. Dumbledore and McGonagall calmly sat and sipped tea in front of them, looking quite pleased with themselves.
Ailie looked around her new residence. It was light and airy, all polished wood and cream, with brightly coloured furniture adding some excitement. The two older wizards had cringed at the younger girl's extravagant choices, but she had been undissuadable. Though she had never decorated before, she knew what she wanted, and was happy with it.
She watched as Hermione summoned a cup and the teapot, and grimaced. The ease with which these people wielded wand and spell was frightening. They never seemed to respect the consequences of their actions, or even acknowledge them.
Their ignorance of consequences did have some advantages, however, she considered as she settled back into the plump red couch. She had stood amazed as the three wizards had created an entire new set of rooms, magically altering the space inside Hermione's existing rooms and placing a complicated spell upon the door. Ailie didn't quite understand how it worked, but she now could access her own, private rooms via Hermione's door with her own special password, without ever having to go inside Hermione's space. Essentially, the girls would be only neighbours, while it would appear that Ailie was staying in Hermione's rooms.
It was the perfect solution. The two young women could live their lives as they wished, yet were close enough to visit. The complicated door system also added to Ailie's safety, if the need should arise; the set of rooms, in reality, didn't exist. It was another of the things that Ailie didn't completely understand, but Dumbledore had told her it was best not to think about it.
Ailie watched Hermione delicately sip at her cup of tea, and felt her mouth go dry. A cup of tea- black, with two sugars, that would really hit the spot. She frowned. This wasn't like her. She had never drank a cup of tea in her life, and here she was positively... lusting after one. And there was another thing...
She groaned, and rubbed her forehead. She was getting a headache, and she never got headaches. It was a big one, too, almost like a migraine...
Hermione looked at her with concern, as did the other two wizards. Ailie missed the knowing look McGonagall and Dumbledore shared.
'Are you all right?' Hermione asked. Ailie nodded, and groaned at the pain that lanced through her head.
'I'll get you a headache potion, we have plenty in stock,' said McGonagall, rising.
'I think I will be okay, if I can just have a cup of... tea?' Ailie asked, wincing. 'No, just black, thanks. Two sugars,' she said, as Hermione reached for the teapot and milk. The other girl raised an eyebrow, but complied.
McGonagall sat back down as Ailie took a first sip.
'Yuk,' Ailie said, pulling a face. She took another sip, and a look of relief came over her face. She looked up, to see the other three looking at her with varying mixes of curiosity, puzzlement, and amusement.
'Severus will be finishing his class soon, Minerva,' said Dumbledore, quietly, folding his hands in his lap.
'Yes, I'll take him a potion directly,' said the professor absently, looking at Ailie curiously. 'I never knew...'
'Yes, well,' interrupted the headmaster. 'Just see if you can get him to take it, will you?' His colleague nodded at this obvious dismissal, and, with nods at the two girls, left the room.
Hermione looked at the door, then back at Dumbledore, confused. 'What,' she asked, 'does this have to do with Professor Snape?'
'Hmm? Oh, nothing, my dear, nothing at all. He just usually gets a headache around this time of day, that's all,' answered the headmaster, rising to leave. 'Well, I will leave you two ladies to get settled in, then.'
They watched him go, and Hermione turned to her friend. 'What could that have been about?'
Ailie sighed, looking down into the now cold tea. She was afraid she knew.
***
Over the next few days, Hermione watched her friend closely. Although Ailie was unable to wander about the school until the students left, being in her new rooms was an improvement on the infirmary. Here, Ailie could at least see the grounds of Hogwarts, from her window overlooking the lawn. Also, now that she was almost back to her old strength, she was able to exercise quietly in her rooms. Apart from that, the various books and items that Hermione brought her each day were enough to keep the curious girl occupied.
However, there were times that Hermione felt her friend was not herself. Though she had not known her long, Hermione instinctively felt that the odd moods her friend exhibited from time to time, and the occasional dry remark, were out of character. At times she was almost... Hermione couldn't put her finger on it, but it was odd.
One evening, the night before the term was due to end, the pair were sitting in front of the fire in Ailie's sitting room. Having dealt with as much of the wizarding world as she could without actually taking Ailie out into it, Hermione had decided to show Ailie some of the theory that students at Hogwarts learnt. They had been discussing the various aspects of arithmancy. Hermione had been talking at length, almost to herself, about one of the problems in Arithmancy that had always puzzled her, when Ailie snapped at her.
'I would have thought, Hermione, that with a brain such as yours you could have grasped the rather obvious answer to this quandary.'
Hermione took the comment in, and with a frown set her book aside. She turned to face her friend.
'Right,' she said, mentally pushing her sleeves up. 'Ailie, is something wrong?'
Ailie looked back at her, her face drawn. 'Um... not anything that I really want to talk about.'
'I think you need to talk about it. For the past three days, ever since you moved in here, in fact, you've been acting... well, snappy. There has to be something wrong.' Hermione paused, waiting for an answer. When none was forthcoming, she sighed. 'I knew it. You're annoyed that I hang around so much. I'll just-'
Ailie stayed her hand, reaching out to stop Hermione from gathering up the books lying around them. 'Hermione, really, it's not you. I like having you around. I really do,' she added, seeing her friend's sceptical look. 'I've really enjoyed having a friend around. It keeps my mind off, well, everything.' Hermione shot her an understanding look, and Ailie slid back into her chair. 'I just... Well, I know what's wrong, but I don't really want to talk about it. Really,' she added, at Hermione's look of hurt.
'If there's something wrong, I want to help you,' Hermione said quietly.
'No. You can't. Not everything can be solved by your massive intellect, Miss Granger.'
Hermione's eyes widened. Those words almost echoed ones uttered years ago, and the tone was exactly right. I have no time for insufferable know- it-alls, Miss Granger. Those words had come like a slap to the face, many years earlier. And now Hermione knew exactly what Ailie's problem was.
'You're channelling Snape!' she cried. Noting Ailie's look of puzzlement, she clarified, 'You're taking on his behaviour.'
Ailie's face crumpled slightly. 'That's what I was afraid was happening.' She sighed, and looked into the fire with a pensive air.
Hermione stared, fascinated. Now that she could see it, she didn't know how she had managed to miss it. Ailie's jaw was set in exactly the way Snape often looked when he was feeling frustrated and thought no-one was looking. She had noticed it in the staff-room often. And the way her shoulders hunched-
Whoa, there Hermione, she thought, giving herself a mental shake. Since when had she noticed so much about Snape, evil Snape that everyone hated, Snape that had tortured herself and her friends for seven long years? Hermione set that aside for later contemplation. Much later.
'Ailie, there has to be a cure for this. We can't just let you turn into Snape,' she said, patting her friend comfortingly on the shoulder.
Ailie shook her head. 'As I told you, the only way out of this is for my coven and his coven to perform the ceremony. He doesn't have one. And neither do I, anymore.'
Hermione frowned with concern. 'Ailie. You can't think like that.' The girl hadn't said much about her coven, even after all their talks, and that, perhaps, had been the greatest sign to Hermione that her friend had been worried about their lack of contact. Dumbledore had people out trying to track them down, but the group of Wiccans were nowhere to be found. It seemed almost as if they had vanished from the earth- or, more likely, had magically altered the landscape to cover up the entrance to their hide-out. Hermione was leaning toward the latter. If she had had a psychic link to someone who had been tortured and killed by Death Eaters the way Ailie's parents had, she would have done everything she could to cover her tracks.
'Yes, I can, Hermione. If they were out there, I would feel them. They've either purged me, or they're dead. I'd rather believe the former.' Ailie's tone was cold, but the eyes she turned to Hermione held a plea in them. Hermione went over and knelt by her chair.
'You can't believe that, Ailie, either of those solutions.' She took Ailie's hand in hers, studying the fine skin on the strangely cold hand. 'I know that you have to consider that, possibly, one of those things has happened to your coven. But you can't accept them as truth until we've ruled out all the possibilities, Ailie,' she said, looking into her friend's eyes, willing her to believe. 'You can't give up on them so easily, or believe that they'd give up on you. We will find what happened to them.'
Ailie stared into her eyes, fighting to regain control. Hermione could almost see Snape slithering beneath her friend's skin, and felt a surge of anger at the man. Just because he wanted to be a lonely outcast who could depend on no-one, it didn't mean that her friend should have to suffer such loneliness as well.
'Ailie, we will find the answers. I promise I will help you until we can.'
A slice of pain went through the other girl's eyes at the words, and her jaw clenched against the tears that brimmed in her eyes. Hermione, not knowing what to do, remembered Molly Weasley. The woman seemed always to believe that anything could be fixed by a good hug, no matter who it was- even someone possessed by a grumpy old recluse. Without much experience in the area, Hermione decided it couldn't hurt.
Ailie's body was stiff and cold as Hermione timidly wrapped her arms around her. Gaining confidence, Hermione hugged tightly, willing whatever strength she could to her friend. Slowly, the other girl relaxed, wrapping Hermione in a hug that almost squeezed the life out of her. As Ailie broke into deep sobs, Hermione rubbed her back, her brow furrowed in thought.
She wondered whether this was the way Severus Snape felt every night.