Chapter Twenty Six: Christmas
Roger de Somerset, Marquis of London, waited impatiently for the guests to arrive. It was Christmas Eve morning and he ignored the efforts of everyone to distract him and insisted on spending the time outside, with a clear view of the road leading to family estate north of the city of London. He was eight years old, and it would be the first Christmas Party that he would give. His brothers, Robert and Harry, were busy inside, helping with the last minute decorations.
For Harry, everything was thrilling. For him, it would be his first real Christmas. It would be his first Christmas with his family. No task was too menial for him to help with, and the servants gave up trying to remind him of his place. They settled for giving him the least messy chores, until someone suggested decorating the guest bedrooms. Lord Henry Somerset was finally out of the way, so they could finish their preparations.
Harry had finished the task assigned him with the help of Gwilliam, the stableman's son, and was trying to find something else to do, with Gwilliam trying to distract him, when Roger's shout was heard from outside. The first coach was approaching.
Ron Weasley had the advantage over Hermione Granger. While she had chanced to visit the Empire, Ron had met a fair number of the people he saw. It was almost funny that he was pointing them out to her. Both of them stumbled frequently on how to address the other guests. Hermione did have one humorous moment. She met Harry's cousin, Thomas Dudley, a familiar looking blond haired boy, who assured her that he was also a nobody.
Colin Creevey, in uniform, also had an advantage. In Imperial Society, an officer in uniform held a position. He was able to avoid some of the embarrassment of not knowing how to act. Also, he had people he could talk to. Lieutenant Sir Benjamin Farley was there, as was another classmate of Harry's, Nathan Brennan, third mate on the HRMS Victorious. But Colin ended up spending most of his time with a friend of Robert's, a black-haired boy the same age, named Derek.
At one point, Hermione embarrassed herself by calling the Duke of Cambridge 'Sir'. While the Duke laughed, it was obvious that she had done the wrong thing. She took the chance to excuse herself and, unnoticed, grabbed her cloak and went outside. It was snowing lightly. Nothing to worry about but pretty to look at. She found a secluded bench in the garden and sat there, warm enough wrapped in the heavy cloak, but happy to be alone.
"I'm supposed to be smarter than that," she said to herself. "Even Ron didn't make a mistake that big."
"Ron has the advantage, I suppose," a voice said from behind her. A red-haired boy, her age, walked into her view.
"I'm sorry. I thought I was alone."
"You were," The boy replied. "When you did not return, I told Robert I would find you. The snow made it an easy task." The boy bowed lightly. "I am O'Connell, Hermione Granger. I did not have the chance to introduce myself."
Hermione looked at the boy. "Do I call you Lord something?" She added in a self-depreciating tone, "I need to ask things like that."
"Then you should ask. That was your mistake. There is no insult to admit you do not know something. The insult is to pretend you know something then prove you do not. People will think you a lacker. And no. I am not called Lord. I am O'Connell."
Hermione was surprised by his matter of fact tone. "Why are you O'Connell? I mean, why don't you have a title?"
O'Connell smiled. "Are you interested in History?" He sat down next to Hermione, unmindful of the cold or the snow. "I am one of three that rule in Ulster. We are by tradition the Chiefs of our Clans. Thus, our names are the names of the Clans. O'Connell, O'Naill, Maguire. By Royal Writ, we stand as equals to Plantagenet, which is how we refer to the King. Should I explain why?"
"I'll borrow a history book," Hermione said. "It sounds like a long story."
"As you wish," O'Connell said. "I could ease you out of your embarrassment." He gave her a smile that reminded her of the Weasley twins.
"How will you do that?"
"Return with me to the party. It will soon be time for dinner. I will introduce you to some of those you have not yet met."
"That will help. I thought I wouldn't have any problems, but that was before I started talking to people."
O'Connell laughed. "It always seems easy, but look at this family. Roger Somerset is Marquis of London. You would call him My Lord Marquis or Lord London. Nor would you ever use his Christian name or his surname. Harry is easier, almost. He has no title so he would always be Lord Henry Somerset or My Lord Henry. You would always use his Christian name unless you address him as an officer. He would then be called Sir, or addressed as Lieutenant Somerset. You would refer to him as Lieutenant Lord Henry Somerset to distinguish him from his brother. Do you follow?"
Hermione laughed. "You are right. It seemed easy."
"Now let me explain Robert. He, like Harry, is an officer and without title, but he has been designated as heir to the Duke of Cambridge. Here, because he has a title pending, he would be called Lord Somerset. You would never use his Christian name, only his surname. Unless, of course, you were referring to him as an officer, and you needed to distinguish him from his brother."
Hermione nodded. "But what if Harry was made an heir to someone. How would you tell them apart?"
"Easily enough. Robert would then become Lord Somerset of Cambridge. And Harry would become Lord Somerset of whatever fief he was heir to."
"No wonder I floundered," Hermione said with a grin. "I should be grateful for your help."
O'Connell held out his hand. "Shall we go inside and try again?"
"I'm afraid I'll make a fool of myself again."
"You could take the path of Robert's cousin. Because he has no title or rank, he spends most of his time in the kitchens. There, he can talk to people who are his equals."
"I'm supposed to be Robert's 'close friend'. I don't think I could hide in the kitchen."
"Then I will make it easy for you. Always call me Owen."
Hermione was perplexed. "Now you have to explain how that will help."
"No. I do not," Owen said with a grin. "I have to lend you a history book. But it is this way. Only an intimate of O'Connell, me, would dare to use my Christian name. That, in turn, excuses you from having to know the titles of others, at least while you are with me."
Hermione returned his look of amusement. "And how are we intimate?"
Owen gave her a surprised look, then returned to his grin. "You are the close friend to my cousin, Lord Robert Somerset."
"You're his cousin?"
Owen openly laughed. "No. I am not. And that would take too long to explain. You will have to trust me."
O'Connell stood up and held out his hand. Hermione took it, and he led her back to the mansion. Once inside, a servant took her cloak, and they walked into the ballroom. "Have you met these people?" He whispered, and nodded toward a young couple with two young girls. They casually walked over, O'Connell still holding her hand.
"Hermione."
"Uh, Owen."
The couple noted the use of first names, and their expressions changed from polite condescension, to one of expectation.
"May I introduce you to Captain at Arms, Sir Mortimer Sheffield, Lady Sheffield, and their two daughters whose names I have not been permitted to know. Sir Mortimer Sheffield, may I present Hermione Granger."
"The pleasure is mine," Sir Mortimer paused, "Hermione."
"And mine," Lady Sheffield said. "And may I present my daughters, Beatrice and Janice." She directed Hermione to a girl her own age who was talking to Ron, of all people. "That is our eldest daughter, Caroline. I believe she is talking to a friend of yours?"
"Yes Ma'am," Hermione said, then immediately blushed with embarrassment. Beatrice and Janice laughed into their hands as Lady Sheffield reassures Hermione. "You are easily forgiven. The influence of O'Connell is well known."
Hermione looked up, grateful for the kind words, and was surprised when Sir Mortimer gave her a wink. She quickly realized that he knew where she came from, and his wife did not.
"Forgive me, Lady Sheffield," Hermione said carefully. "This is my first time . . ."
Lady Sheffield smiled warmly. "Nobility can be overwhelming. I dare not vouch for the men, but if in doubt address any woman as My Lady, and do not worry about the finer points."
Hermione smiled gratefully. "Thank you, My Lady. It does help to know that."
"You are a friend of Lord Henry, from before?"
"Yes, My Lady ."
"Master Sean O'Lochlainn mentioned you," Sir Mortimer interrupted. "Dearest, this young lady has some degree of talent and has been attending Master Sean's lecture."
"So, you are the one," Lady Sheffield said as she carefully removed Hermione's hand from O'Connell's arm. "Perhaps it would help if you had an adult introduce you. O'Connell is well meaning, but he is young."
The next hour before dinner was more of a class exercise for Hermione than an informal gathering. She loved it.
Hermione stared at the array of silverware on the table in front of her. She looked in confusion at Robert sitting next to her, and he smiled.
"Robert, I'm tired of making mistakes. What do I do with five forks?"
"What an interesting question," Robert replied. "I thought to ask Colin if he knew about place settings. Do you know what his answer was? He said yes, he remembered the Titanic."
"Thank you," Hermione said, and gave him a bemused look.
There was a movie of that name the year Hermione received her letter. After the excitement of the letter was over with, her parents took her to the cinema to see that very movie. There was a scene where the hero, Jack, was at a fancy dinner, and Molly Brown pointed to the silverware and said, "Just start on the outside and work your way in." Hermione would make it a point to explain this to Robert later, and they would make arrangements to see the film together.
"Your friend Ronald is most amusing, Lord Henry," Caroline Sheffield said to her designated dinner partner.
"He has an active imagination," Harry answered carefully.
"I did not know that," Caroline replied, with a coy look in her eyes.
Harry paused as the servant ladled his soup. "Um, what did you talk about?"
"Quidditch," Caroline whispered, and covered her smile as Harry coughed on his soup.
"I apologize," He said when he could speak. "It was hotter than I expected." He turned to Caroline casually and said, "Did he really?"
"To be honest, he was surprised that I did not know about it," Caroline said. She smiled ingenuously. "Perhaps we can discuss that matter later." She raised her voice to a normal tone. "Are you stationed in London permanently, Lord Henry?"
"I am not to be stationed here after the New Year, although I have not been informed of my new post. Calais has been mentioned."
"I am fresh from Calais," Nathan Brennan said from across the table. "It is not a difficult post."
Janice Sheffield, who was permitted to partner Nathan, interjected. "Father says that Calais is the worst of the lot in Navy life. It is all physical labour by day and book work by night."
"That is true," Nathan said. "Each evening they would tell us how to do something, and the next morning we would board a ship and do it. I can brag that I am an excellent carpenter."
Harry's eyes glossed as he thought about being on a ship and actually doing something. "It sounds wonderful."
Caroline laughed as Janice frowned. "Sister, remember never to marry a Navy man. Look to the Army, as Father says."
"Only to the boys who come by to call on you," Janice retorted.
"It is this way," Owen explained to Hermione. "Everyone knows that you are a close friend to Robert. You do understand what that means?"
Hermione nodded. "It means that I can expect him to ask me to marry him once we're old enough."
"Not quite." Owen grinned. "You are hopelessly ignorant, Hermione. It means that Robert has asked you to marry him, and that you have said yes. When you are older and certain matters have been, um, finessed, you can expect him to set the date."
The small group that had been listening waited for Hermione's reaction to her recent blunder. They were a sympathetic group and would accept almost any reaction, but they were surprised by her reply.
"That may be what it normally means, Owen, but I told Robert not to even consider it until these 'certain matters' were finessed as you would say. Once that happens, he'll ask me again." She paused. "And then I will decide. After all, I'm not a complete idiot."
Robert smirked. "I will admit, O'Connell, she has you to rights on that."
Mary, Lady Darcy, the former Dowager Duchess of Carlisle, watched the scene from her table nearby. "The young lady has gone from making every mistake possible to holding her own in a crowded room. Is this your doing?"
Lord Darcy followed his wife's gaze. "Look to O'Connell. He would devour the girl if he could. He found Miss Granger floundering in water over her head, and gave her a liferope. He seems to dote on the girl."
"Poor O'Connell." Lady Darcy gave the table one final glance. "He will do anything to make her happy, even keep his feelings secret."
"I would not worry," Master Sean O'Lochlainn said from her other side. "Love is fickle at that age. O'Connell will live."
Lord Bontriomphe arose from the head table. He began by saluting the guests, beginning with the Duke of Lancaster, the younger son of His August Majesty. The eight-year-old boy raised his glass in thanks as did Lord London, the boy next to him. This was a happy moment for Lord Bontriomphe. For three hours as the guests arrived and for the two hours plus of the dinner, he had been forced to babysit two children who outranked him. His duties were almost over.
Father Maurice Pannier was asked to give a parting blessing and prayer, and everyone rose as he spoke. He concluded the prayer by raising his own glass, which had been hastily refilled. "May God Bless Everyone This Day." The room was filled with a chorus of "Amen" and the guests drank a final toast. The dinner was over.
The sun was still high enough and those guests returning to London would have little difficulty. The Duke of Lancaster was the first to depart. He had to return to the Tower and begin his own preparations for Christmas Day. Other guests left as well.
Before he left, Lieutenant Sir Benjamin Farley forced Harry to agree to spend Easter with his family, conditions permitting. Nathan Brennan had also refused to stay. He had a train to catch to Manchester. He would also spend Christmas Day with his family.
Caroline Sheffield thanked Harry for his politeness to her as her father walked up to gather his family. "Father, Lord Henry has asked if I might stay for the holiday."
Captain Sir Mortimer Sheffield cast a curious look at Harry. "That is an interesting request."
"It is because of Hermione," Harry pointed out, as he had rehearsed, "She is the only girl staying with us." He paused as Captain Sheffield watched him. "It is this way, Sir Mortimer. Your daughter made the offer to stay when I commented on that fact. It would be of great help to Hermione. I do understand your position though. It is Christmas."
"Thank you for understanding," Captain Sheffield said. "Caroline, shall we go."
"Father," Caroline said in a last attempt, "look at the poor girl. She has the future of Cambridge on one side of her and a third of Ulster on the other side. She will not be able to breath. That is why I want to help."
"Um," Harry paused. "Captain, I did ask your daughter to consider me a close friend, so that proper etiquette would be shown."
"Close friend, Caroline?"
"Father, He could not ask me to stay otherwise. And we agreed our friendship would end as soon as one of us found someone we truly liked."
"Let her stay," Lady Sheffield told her husband, then added with humour, "She is old enough to set her sights. And she can see Ulster clearly from here."
Captain Sheffield looked at his wife in mock horror. "You scheming woman. You want to set our daughter to trap a Lord in her bridal net."
"It worked for me," Lady Sheffield said, and they both laughed.
Caroline could not resist a small jibe. "To tell the truth, Father, I have set my sights lower." Captain Sheffield turned around to find her looking straight at Harry who was saying, "on second thought, Hermione should be fine."
"You may stay, Dearest," Captain Sheffield said with grandiose beneficence, "but do reconsider. He is NAVY."
Caroline smiled, and walked with her family to their coach. After their departure, she returned to the hall, and walked over to where Hermione was standing. Ignoring Lord Robert and O'Connell, she curtsied and introduced herself. "I understand that we are the only two girls staying for the holiday. I thought we could talk."
Hermione smiled and they both excused themselves. Robert watched sadly as she walked away.
It was almost seven in the evening when the coach arrived. Hermione and Caroline were sitting together on the settee. Lord Robert and Ron Weasley were enthralling Lord London with stories about Quidditch, as O'Connell listened in. And Harry was standing at the gate staring after another coach that had departed. Colin Creevey was returning home for the rest of the holiday.
The coach stopped as it passed the gate and a window opened.
"My Lord Somerset?" a familiar voice asked. Master Sorcerer Cameron Mercer was looking out at him.
"Lord Henry Somerset," Harry replied as he raised his hair to show his scar. "Merry Christmas to you, Master Sorcerer. Have you the pudding? If so, your timing is excellent."
Master Mercer stepped out of the coach and waved the driver forward. He would walk back to the house with the young lord. "I was told that Goodwoman Granger had arrived here for the holidays. I was very much surprised by the person who informed me."
"I would not know about that." Harry answered honestly.
"It was Master Sorcerer Sean O'Lochlainn. He visited me in my office at the College of London. I was curious how he found out about me, and I thought I would ask his godson, My Lord."
"Do you mean the wand Hermione is testing for you? She probably told him when they met. She tells everyone who asks about the wand."
Master Mercer smiled. "It was as simple as that? I must learn to worry less. You do understand, My Lord, that having a quality student at your school encourages other to consider your school as well. Our accreditation has always been as good or better than Cambridge, but they do have the Royal Thumaturgical Institute there as well."
Harry gave the Sorcerer a confused look. They had reached the front door. "I do not understand your point, Master Sorcerer."
"Then you will shortly, My Lord." Master Mercer paused as Harry opened the door for him. "My Lord, does the wand still work?"
"Only for Hermione, and she says it takes a lot of effort."
Master Mercer smiled. "I suppose it would." He was still smiling when he entered the sitting room where everyone had gathered. The servant announced him, and Lord Bontriomphe immediately thanked him for the gift of the pudding, assuring him it would be served shortly. When he stepped back, Master Sean took his place.
"Cameron, I am so happy that you are here. I have a few things I must tell you." Master Sean led him away for a private conversation. A few minutes later, the two walked into the sitting room and confronted Hermione Granger.
Hermione excused herself to get the wand she had been given back in September, and returned shortly. Master Sorcerer Cameron Mercer examined the wand over a period of twenty minutes, as Hermione explained to him how the wand worked for everyone at first.
"But now, Master Sorcerer Mercer, I seem to be the only who can use it, or will bother. It does take a great deal of effort."
The Sorcerer smiled. "Please do not be so formal, Hermione, if I may call you that. You are informal with Master Sean. Call me Cameron. And could you show me how well the wand is working for you?"
It was Robert who noticed and nudged Harry. As Hermione concentrated on moving the glass from one side table to the other, both Sorcerers were watching her and not the glass. Both boys saw them grin at each other once Hermione finished the task.
"I told you it was difficult to use, Master Cameron."
"That is no surprise," the Sorcerer said, as Master Sean let out a snort. The tubby Irishman was trying to control his laughter. Master Cameron said smoothly, "the spell on this wand dissipated weeks ago. This is nothing more than a decorated piece of metal."
Hermione was the most surprised. "But I just used it."
"Then I shall prove it to you." Master Cameron picked up a spoon and handed it to the girl. "Do exactly what you did when you were holding the wand, and you will get the same result. If that is too embarrassing, simply stand there and move it."
Everyone was quiet. Hermione looked at the glass, then back to Master Cameron, who gave her a reassuring nod. Master Sean uttered some words of encouragement, and Hermione turned back to the glass. In complete silence, she concentrated. No one in the room moved, although the servants all came out, quietly, to watch what was happening. Thomas Dudley and the stable boy, Gwilliam, were standing together. For two minutes or more, the glass sat there. Suddenly, as though an invisible hand had grasped it, the glass began to rise in the air. Then the glass fell back to the table and shattered.
Hermione said, crying with delight, "I was doing it. I could feel the spell in my head." She paused and blushed. "I'm sorry. I lost my concentration."
"You will get better with practice," Master Cameron told her. "You have a very organized mind. That is helpful in sorcery, especially when it comes to ignoring wards."
"I don't understand."
"It is simple, Miss Granger," Master Sean said. "Remember what I told you about the Laws of Convergence and Compatibility. A ward is set up at the point of convergence, usually a doorway or a corridor. As with the coin I showed you, only someone with the compatible factor can pass the point of convergence."
"You have been teaching her, Sean?"
"Only lectures, Cameron. As I was saying, Hermione, you remember Captain Grissom's ship. I put a ward on the ship so that only those students in his class could board. That was on Hallowe'en night, if you remember."
Hermione frowned. "There couldn't have been any wards on the ship. I was worried about Harry, uh, Lord Henry, and I wanted to make sure he was fine. I remember hesitating, but I don't remember anything stopping me."
Master Sean nodded. "Nor did anyone stop you from taking my stack of coins. I suspect you were more concerned about 'uh Lord Henry' then about spending money."
"Master Sean?" Master Cameron said with a touch of surprise. "In my capacity I have been cataloging secured research of . . ."
"I apologize Cameron, I thought you knew. Hermione is from the world you have been analyzing."
Master Cameron grew wide eyed. "And everyone here knows?" Master Sean nodded. "How many others are here from that world?" He was looking around carefully.
Ron Weasley raised his hand. From another corner, Baron MontClaire raised his hand. Then Harry raised his. Master Cameron had the look of a man who had discovered the lost city of gold. "Then, then, you and Lord Somerset . . ."
Harry nodded. "Except for the scar."
"They gave me no names," Master Cameron explained. "Only the facts to organize. But I must ask your age, Hermione."
"I turned Thirteen in September."
"There is no need to rush. The earliest we could admit you is in October, and that will be mostly lectures anyway, although if you have a sponsor there is a chance of having tutorials. I would be more than willing to volunteer for that privilege if you decide to attend."
Master Sean noted Hermione's confused look. "Unlike most others in your world, Miss Granger, you have sufficient talent to make training worthwhile. What we are trying to do is to get you to agree to attend the Sorcerial College of the University of London." He smiled ingenuously, and Hermione had to laugh.
"You want to train me to be a Sorceress?"
"No, a Sorcerer. Sorceress seems to have an evil connotation. We do not use the name. But we do not need an answer right away. I hate to suggest this, but you should talk to Professor Quirrell about it, although he will try to talk you into attending Cambridge."
"I like Cambridge," Ernie MacMillan said as a lark. "And she will have a friend there."
Then Lord London spoke up, as he stood up and walked over to Hermione, taking her hand. "Hermione will go to school in London, because here she has family."
"I'm not family," Hermione pointed out.
Lord London looked up at Hermione and said, "You almost are."
Hermione grinned at the eight-year-old boy. "Fine. IF I go to school to be a sorcerer, I will go to school in London."
"You will stay with us," Lord London gushed. "And you can show me magic every day."
"MY LORD LONDON," Lord Bontriomphe said brusquely. "Goodwoman Granger said IF. And while she will be more than welcome in your house, she will decide what is best for her." He leaned down to look Roger in the eye. "And she will not be at your beck and call to perform spells for your entertainment." Roger frowned at the rebuke. "On the other hand, the servants are waiting to serve us a most wonderful pudding." He whispered to Lord Roger, "the raisins are bigger than plums, I do believe."
Hermione looked out of her window at the snow that gently coated the ground. Caroline was behind her, with a whimsical look on her face.
"Hermione, I am very happy that I dared to be polite, and nod agreeably when Goodman Weasley asked about Quidditch."
"And you mentioned it to Harry to see how he would react."
"Then I bribed him into helping me stay, so that I could find out the whole story. But I learned more than I planned. Hermione, forgive me for asking, but what are the abominations?"
Hermione shuddered at the memories. The dementor in the coach. The dementors filling the pitch. "They are walking nightmares. They are used to guard the prisons, so that evil wizards do not escape."
Caroline shuddered in turn. "I am sorry, Hermione, but your world seems so . . . barbaric." She was surprised when Hermione started laughing.
A/N: I was asked why Master Sorcerer Sean O'Lochlainn was always referred to by his full name and title. The simple reason is that he is a person in high standing (Master Sorcerer and Chief Forensic Sorcerer for his Highness, the Duke of Normandy), while still being a commoner. He can not use any honorific before his name, so his full name and guild rank are used. On a personal level, he would be referred to as Master Sean, as Robert does (as Charlie Potter) when he first spots the Sorcerer at Hogwarts.
