x-x-x-x-x-x-
GRASCORTY CASTLE
Lucille Lee
x-x-x-x-x-x-
Summary: AU. WIP. Set in the 18th-19th century. Hermione hadn't really gotten used to her new life when she stumbles upon a multitude of adventures. Will life at Grascorty Castle be more different than she thought? SS:HG:RL
x-x-x-x-x-x-
Review Responses:-
x-x-x-x-x-x-
GRASCORTY CASTLE
Lucille Lee
x-x-x-x-x-x-
Summary: AU. WIP. Set in the 18th-19th century. Hermione hadn't really gotten used to her new life when she stumbles upon a multitude of adventures. Will life at Grascorty Castle be more different than she thought? SS:HG:RL
x-x-x-x-x-x-
Review Responses:-
Paprika: Thanks for reviewing!
BaskervilleBeauty: I am flattered! Hope you like it till the end! It is not very difficult to portray Lord Black, though. It is my opinion of what he would be if he hadn't been doomed to spend thirteen years in Azkaban.
Natsuyori: Thanks for the review and for clearing my doubt about Lupin's middle name! I always want to be right about people's name, you see. It is almost an obsession. ;-)
x-x-x-x-x-x-
5. In which Hermione Granger begins her "job" and Remus Lupin is despondent
x-x-x-x-x-x-
Hermione mindlessly plucked at the threads from a hack on her sleeve.
It was all right to say that you would poke about here and there and find out about things. The problem arose when you actually started on the job.
That was the problem, wasn't it? She didn't know where to start.
She had performed a spell which informed her that Ginny was the only witch in the castle other than her.
That could mean two things – either the mysterious witch had been sent away from Grascorty.
Or… or the more probable reason – a reason she believed, in fact: Ginny was the 'mysterious' witch. It all fitted in, though.
Mr. Snape – a hostile and insolent man – had been taking care of a child which was certainly not his. But he had also had either Malfoy junior or senior as his visitor.
Why?
She found the answer rather simple. Because of Florinzel. Because Florinzel was Ginny and Draco's child. Because Draco Malfoy – though he might be the most wicked man on the face of the earth – would not lose his heir.
Though Hermione was a Muggle-born and knew nothing about the pureblood "society", she was aware of the peculiar kind of magic that existed between parents and their children – not adopted children, blood children. It was the power which had saved Harry from being roasted off by Voldemort. It was the power which had let Ron break through 'Tom Riddle's' (the one from the diary-adventure of their second-year) shields. It was the power which made Draco Malfoy a terrifying and unbelievable replica of Lucius Malfoy.
So if she was to follow this train of thought, it would mean that Ginny had lied to her – in a way.
She remembered Ginny telling her how much she hated Draco Malfoy and never wanted to have anything to do with him again. Plus, she hadn't mentioned a child.
Somehow, it was very painful to know that Ginny was lying… That Draco Malfoy wasn't a complete idiot and devil and had not disowned his child.
But why would Ginny lie to her? Why not tell her nothing at all?
She had told her supposedly everything, mentioning that she hated Malfoy junior.
Instead of lying, she could have simply avoided the whole episode. But she lied. She told her everything and yet she had lied.
Hermione was confused. Why would she do that? Won't it be easier and safer to keep her in ignorance and pretend that nothing had happened?
That was the first shortcoming. She couldn't fully trust Ginny. Ginny had lied to her. There was no reason why she would not do it again. It was very hurting. After all, they were supposed to be best friends – sisters.
The second one had struck her after some deep thinking.
Why would they keep Florinzel with Mr. Snape?
Who was this Mr. Snape anyway? She was sure that she had never heard Ginny mention him ever before. Had Florinzel been taken away from Ginny by force? She didn't think so. Mr. Snape would not have sent that letter then.
Anyway, that was the confusing part of it. But she could not seem to be any near the solution than before.
And as for the matter with Mr. Lupin… well, that was a different story entirely. She was not at all sure where he fit in. And this Dr. Shacklebolt… What had these people to do with Ginny, Mr. Snape and Malfoy?
She had thought that Mr. Lupin was the kind of man who would hate the Malfoys. Was she wrong?
She didn't know.
All she knew that she was horribly confused. And she had no inkling about what to do about it.
She let out a slight cry – it was all so frustrating!
x-x-x-x-x-x-
She had fallen asleep in her dress, which was crumpled, dirty and a little torn from the journey so she didn't have much regrets about that. Fortunately, she had had a good night's sleep in spite of her turbulent thoughts. She woke up to a clearer day than one would expect on the last day of the year. There was no sun but there were no dark, furious rain-clouds either. All in all, she had woken up to a better atmosphere than she had gone to sleep in.
There was no darkness and it gave her fresh hope.
She didn't see Ginny at all that morning – or for the rest of the day. There was no other maid in her place either. However, it didn't make any difference. She could dress very well on her own and clean up her room, thank-you.
She ordered a hearty breakfast. She wasn't a glutton, but she believed that a good breakfast gave the energy required for strenuous thinking and conversations and she suspected she would be doing some of that soon.
At half past nine, she went to the library. She had seen a quill and some parchments there. Hopefully, there would be some ink about.
She wanted to send a letter to Harry asking him to meet her – giving the impression that she really, really needed to talk to him. That would bring him without hesitation. Harry, unlike all the new people (except Ginny) she had met, was a person with whom she could have a heart-to-heart talk. She had known Harry since they were twelve. Merlin, she had even known about his first kiss and he knew about the boys she had fancied! It was odd, but it was there. Not only with him, but with Ron, too. It was as if they were 'sisters' to her or maybe she was a 'brother' to them.
At the Christmas Ball, she had realized that Harry still loved her as he had in their school-days. Hopefully, he would listen to her and not tell lies to her. Not hopefully, surely!
As she found some violet ink in a drawer and began writing her letter, she wondered where Ron was. He had said something about Quidditch-training, but even he hadn't been sure about it. Hermione made a mental note to ask Harry about Ron when she met him.
x-x-x-x-x-x-
x-x-x-x-x-x-
Remus hadn't been able to sleep at all that night.
His mind had been going over what Sirius had said and then he had been drawing his own conclusions. All in all, he agreed with Sirius. But he wasn't sure that was what he wanted. He was anxious about Miss Granger. She had shown her great capability of falling into mortal peril – much like every other Gryffindor – and there was nothing to assure him that she won't do that again.
Ginny could possibly not have been able to help. She had already failed. Moreover, she wasn't in the Castle, so that wasn't an option he would consider.
And Merlin knew where Harry was!
It would be futile to ask Dumbledore about Harry's whereabouts. Harry had hinted that it was a 'super-secret' task. Even Sirius won't know anything about it.
How in the world was he to protect the woman he loved when all he could do in front of her was babble out things that weren't meant to be babbled out!
If only Percy Weasley could see his condition now… he would probably be assured of winning any and every case against him by bringing Miss Granger in his line of vision.
It was so queer! He had never thought that he would like a woman that much! He couldn't even think of anything without her interrupting his thoughts! Was it possible to feel so intensely about anyone?
x-x-x-x-x-x-
"Mr. Lupin," his valet informed him once he had finished dressing, "Lord Black has requested your presence in the breakfast-room."
Lupin glanced at the clock. "I thought he was a late riser."
"Lord Black has been up and about since seven o'clock in the morning."
Lupin nodded absently. Something had gone wrong with everyone. The world had turned upside down.
x-x-x-x-x-x-
Lord Black, it turned out, wasn't having his breakfast in the said room, but reading some letter.
Remus frowned. He had been expecting something to eat.
"You have a rival for Miss Granger, Remus," Lord Black informed him brightly. "And you won't believe who it is!"
"I hope it isn't you," said Remus wryly, ringing the bell. It was true that he had heart-troubles but he was in no way going to get love-sick. He had an appetite which demanded good food.
"It's Harry!"
Remus remembered his talk with Harry in the gardens before the latter was to leave for Merlin knows where.
"You're behind times, Sirius. Harry loves Miss Granger as his sister."
"Well, Miss Granger does not," persisted Lord Black, giving him the parchment he was reading. "See what she writes… There is something about which I can only talk to you… Please come down to the Grascorty Grounds this afternoon… I desperately need to talk to you… I will be waiting near the great pine…"
Remus paled slightly. It couldn't be, could it? Harry had seemed so sincere when he said he had purely platonic feelings for Miss Granger! Well, he hadn't quite said that, but that was the gist of what he had said.
What would Miss Granger need to talk to him about, anyway?
"I think that we are misinterpreting this," said Remus, his appetite suddenly vanishing even though the eggs and bacon and coffee were immaculately laid out and were his favourite.
"I think you ought to tell her that you love her before Harry does," countered Lord Black.
"I think you ought not to have opened a letter addressed to Harry."
"I think you ought to thank me for not being the perfect gentleman when I recognized Miss Granger's writing."
"I think you ought to leave my matters with Miss Granger alone!" said Remus angrily and stood up.
"Will you be eating that meal?" asked Lord Black.
"I have no appetite. Moreover, I have got some cases which require immediate attention. I will see you later."
Lord Black shrugged and took his vacated place. He thanked Merlin for not giving him such a tremulous love-life. He was happy with his immoral way of life. Plus, he couldn't imagine letting Cook Ginger's marvellous culinary skills go to waste!
x-x-x-x-x-x-
x-x-x-x-x-x-
Hermione put on her thick black cloak. The English weather had turned out to be as unpredictable as ever. It had started to snow even before she had had her lunch. However, she was sure that Harry would come to meet her anyway. Just as she was going to keep the appointment.
So pulling on the hood, she went out.
Luckily, it wasn't snowing heavily. She was able to reach the Grounds without much incident. There were no secret potholes in which she would fall – at least none that she knew of. It wasn't as if she was in the Yorkshire Moors.
She leaned against a giant lone pine at a corner. Casting a Snow-Shield Charm about her, she waited for Harry.
x-x-x-x-x-x-
She was growing impatient. Where was he? She knew that a small thing like this won't stop him. Merlin! He was a powerful wizard! Even the mightiest of blizzards won't stop him!
She was about to give up all hope and return to the Castle when she spotted a moving black spot at the far edge of the Grounds.
She smiled. Of course he would come! How stupid of her to think otherwise!
Raring to go, she started moving towards him. However, she observed after a few minutes, he seemed to be going in the direction of the Castle. What was he doing?
"Harry!" she called out. "Harry!"
He didn't seem to hear her.
She put a mild Voice-Loudening Spell on her throat.
"Harry!"
Thankfully, he heard her and stopped. He turned and after a moment's hesitation, began walking towards her.
At last, thought Hermione, I am going to get to know something.
x-x-x-x-x-x-
x-x-x-x-x-x-
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Evil cliff-hanger! I know it is shorter than others, but it seemed just the right place to leave off! ;-) Don't worry! You'll get the next one soon enough. It is already half-complete. Just hope the modem behaves itself.
So for a faster update, review! I hope I get better review statistics. I KNOW that this story has its faults, but it isn't that bad. Right?
x-x-x-x-x-x-