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GRASCORTY CASTLE
Lucille Lee
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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
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Review Responses:-
BaskervilleBeauty: Their reactions were just to show the intensity of their feelings. Lupin is like… sure about it while Hermione is in doubt. That is why Hermione wasn't so awfully affected by it all… I hope it wasn't confusing?
Almost Funny: Thanks for the compliment! By the way, that has got to be the most "unique" threat I ever got! ;-D Hope the update came soon enough! If not, you will be sourly disappointed! I have no soul! Ha:-D
Manda (in response to your mail because my Yahoo! Mail was troubling me and not letting me reply): I am not sure about it. You'll give me credit for the story? If yes, then I am cool with it. Go ahead! Just mention my name once. ;-)
Natsuyori: Thanks. Anyway, I just feel I can do much better than this. Sky's the limit!
Serena: Me, too, sort of. Lol.
Kismet0116: Thanks!
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6. In which it's so cold…
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Hermione hastened her pace. In a few minutes she was near Harry.
"Harry! I thought you won't come! I have got a lot of things to tell you and ask, as well."
'Harry' let out a low laugh and lifted up his hood.
"Miss Hermione Granger, if I remember rightly – and as eager as ever. Surely, Mudblood, you haven't changed a bit! You're still as annoying."
Hermione stiffened, her eyes widening, and anger along with hatred welling up in her.
"Draco Malfoy," she said quietly, her hand moving towards her wand, "what are you doing here?"
"I might ask the same of you," he countered, whipping out his wand.
"I live here. You are trespassing on my uncle's property," she said, her wand ready for a duel. She was a well-brought up witch – which did not mean that she would give up the chance to duel and defeat one of her most hated adversaries.
"What makes you think I care?"
"It's a pity, you don't, you wicked liar!"
His face clouded. Hermione knew that look. She bent and moved away just before he shot a hex at her.
Standing up straight again, she shot out a Stunning Spell at him.
He ducked. "Crucio!"
Hermione's eyes widened at the word, but she managed to evade it by leaning right.
However…
"Colloportus!"
A light blue spell shot at her and she was send flying against the pine, hitting herself hard against it. Fortunately, she wasn't unconscious, though bleeding. She was up on her feet and evaded the next spell he sent at her.
A flurry of curses followed.
"Stupefy!"
"Impedimenta!"
"Diffindo!"
"Expelliarmus!"
"Petrificus Totalus!"
Completely forgetting that she was in a Muggle hamlet and fighting valiantly against the snow falling faster and faster, Hermione engaged in a fierce duel with Malfoy. She was not going to spare him although she would not use the Unforgivable Curses. She shielded herself against curses she could recognize and physically evaded the Dark ones.
Just as she sent a hex at him, which he shielded himself against; she felt something other than Malfoy move. The next moment, Malfoy lay unconscious on the snow-covered ground.
Breathing hard, she tried to discern who the newcomer was. She recognized him. Even though he was heavily cloaked and hooded, she was sure of who he was.
"Mr. Snape."
Not sparing a glance at her, he floated up Malfoy and began to move towards the edge of the grounds.
"Mr. Snape," she breathed out running towards him. "I…"
Suddenly he stopped, throwing back his hood. "You are an unnecessary trouble, Miss Granger. I have more work to do than protect you. Go back to where you came from. You do not belong here. You are a Muggle-born. You are not one of them – one of us. Your decision to be a nun was your best one. Go along with it – it will be better for you. Do anything! Just go away!" he said harshly and turned away.
The snow was falling fast. A blizzard was not far. Hermione stood in the white field, her pain and exhaustion numbed by the cold – the cold emanating from the callous man who was fast disappearing into the storm.
Involuntarily, her eyes watered. Trying hard not to let the tears flow down, she looked down, bringing up a gloved hand to wipe off the tears.
Something shone – she blinked – something shiny was being fast buried under the snow. Kneeling down, she pulled out the ring made completely of diamonds wired in gold.
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She could have easily cast a spell to protect herself against the snowstorm. But she did not. Moreover, she didn't care. Her mind was still on his hard-hearted words.
How could he say that? She would have just defeated that high and mighty Draco Malfoy if he hadn't interrupted them! She didn't need him! She could fight her own fights and win them! What was he doing here anyway? Why was he here? She might be a Muggle-born but she was NOT less than any snotty pureblood! That black-hearted vile man!
Her lips were tinged with blue as she returned to the castle. A maid going down to the kitchen was disconcerted at seeing her – tired, wounded and almost numb with cold. Snapping at her to leave her alone, Hermione went to her room.
The fire was burning brightly in her room. Ginny was sitting near it, sewing.
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Remus ran his fingers through his hair. At this rate, he would lose his job and become a maniac. As if Miss Granger wasn't enough to distract him, the continuous clutter-clatter in the room just below his study was driving him to insanity. Surrendering all calm to Ares, he threw down his quill and went to see what was happening.
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF MERLIN IS GOING ON IN HERE?"
The numerous people, who filled the room and those who were going in or coming out, all stopped at his indignant bellow.
"Joseph," he shouted at the butler, "what is going on in here?"
The aged, portly man, who had been serving since old Lord Black's days, was offended at his tone. However, in an extremely foreboding manner, he replied, "We are preparing for Lord Black's New Year Ball, sir – as we always do."
Trying to rub off the increasing headache, Lupin asked, "And where is Lord Black?"
"He is not in the manor, sir. He left for the city four hours ago."
Wondering what Sirius was up to, Remus left. He could hear the clutter-clatter begin again and decided there was no way except a Silencing Spell to cut off the noise. But that would mean that he won't be able to hear anything outside the study. He couldn't risk that. Not in these times.
Sighing, he put back his books and files and decided that he would do it the day after tomorrow as he still had one week. Tomorrow, as he surmised, the household would be busy cleaning up after the Ball. They would make even louder noise then.
He would go down to the garden right on the other side. He craved some peace for his sanity.
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"Harry! What are…?"
But Harry burst out even before Remus was out of the shock of seeing him there.
"I just got to know. Through Snape. Hermione was attacked. By Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. WHERE WERE YOU?"
Remus was badly shocked. "Wh…?"
"I TRUSTED YOU! WHAT WERE YOU DOING?"
"Harry, I…"
"I didn't say anything to Sirius because I knew he isn't very dependable because he goes to the city at strange times. But you would. You promised to take care of her. But I am gone one day and she is attacked by DRACO MALFOY!"
Harry was fuming. His green eyes were livid.
"And here's the best part – SEVERUS SNAPE seeks me out and in his usual snide manner informs me of my incompetence of taking care of my friends. SEVERUS SNAPE – someone who is supposedly a DEATH-EATER and SPY and someone before whom I have ALWAYS – ALWAYS defended you – shows me how inept and worthless I am – not being able to protect a friend living not more than a mile away!"
Harry paused to take breath and sat down on a bench. "What were you doing? How could you let this happen?"
Remus was deadly pale. "Harry, I had no idea… I don't understand… where did this happen?"
"Grascorty Grounds! That's a shame, right?"
"I am going to the Castle to see how she is," said Remus, but Harry stopped him.
"You cannot just barge into the Castle when you want to. It will look suspicious. She's fine."
"Have you met her?"
"Snape said she reached back the Castle safely."
"I don't trust him!"
"And yet he is the one who protects her – not you," said Harry scathingly and went away.
Remus stood rooted to the spot – anxiety and anger making his head throb with pain.
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"Hermione."
Hermione looked coldly at her. "Ginny."
"Hermione, I…"
"I don't want to hear any explanations, Ginny. Please, I want to be alone."
"I wasn't offering explanations, Hermione. I only wanted to know if you were fine."
"I have never felt better, Ginny. Please, go. What would a pureblood care for a lowly Muggle-born anyway?" she shot at her angrily.
Ginny looked hurt and shocked. "What are you talking about? How can you say that to me?"
"Just as you can lie and hide things from me, I can do the same, you know!"
Torn between anger and distress, Ginny went out.
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Hermione fell down on her vacated chair. She needed the warmth. Her body felt like ice and she suspected a deep gash had formed across the back of her neck and shoulder.
She drew closer to the warmth, trying to blank out her mind to all but the relief provided by the flames in the hearth.
A few minutes later, shaking her head at her own foolishness, she fetched her wand from her cloak-pocket and cast a Warming Charm around the room. It was bliss after her misadventure in the blizzard.
She regretted being short with Ginny. But she had been furious at Mr. Snape. She had spilled out her anger on her remembering that even Ginny lied to her. Everyone lied to her. Why?
As she got rid of her wet clothes and put on dry ones, her natural curiosity kicked in.
Where was Harry? She had gone there to meet Harry. But he hadn't been there. Instead, Malfoy had come there – for some incomprehensible reason.
Incomprehensible? She wondered…
Even Mr. Snape had been there. And Ginny had returned.
Pieces were starting to fall in place.
These three always seemed to be around together. Mr. Snape was taking care of Florinzel – Ginny and Draco's child. Ginny, obviously, knew about Florinzel's whereabouts and was allowed to visit him.
But what about Draco? Where was he coming in? Why was he here? He was going towards the Castle when she first saw him and thought that he was Harry. So obviously, he hadn't known that she was around until she talked to him. It meant that he had come to meet Ginny.
How did he know that Ginny was here? She had surmised from Ginny's account of their relationship that Draco Malfoy would not know where she would be. But he obviously did. How?
She rummaged in her drawer for the Madam Muffins' Minor Wound Healing Salve.
Maybe… maybe he was the one who had intercepted Mr. Snape's owl, Eros. Somehow, he had come to know about the existence of his son and wanted him. Which meant that Ginny had been keeping Florinzel secret from Draco. But he had come to know about it. Hence, he had attacked them that night on the Bridge.
Most probably, that was why he had come to Grascorty. He couldn't apparate here so he was walking down to the Castle – she had mistaken him for Harry.
Still, there was a lot left unsolved.
First, how had Draco Malfoy come to know about his child and why Ginny had kept the existence of Florinzel such a secret that she hadn't even told her, Hermione?
Second, where did Mr. Lupin come in? For she was sure that he came in somewhere – he had more than revealed everything that night.
Third, why did she have the feeling that things went much deeper than she thought?
Fourth and rather imminent one, why hadn't Harry come to meet her this afternoon?
Oh yes, there was one other thing – how had Mr. Snape come to know that Draco Malfoy was here duelling with her? Even if Ginny had seen them, she couldn't have informed him so soon.
Not unless Grascorty Castle was connected with the Floo Network.
But Grascorty Castle was a Muggle place, right?
And yet, one couldn't apparate here.
This is going to be interesting, she thought as she examined the cut with her fingers. And that cut is going to leave a mark.
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AUTHOR'S NOTES: I am unsure of the colour, spelling and purpose of the spell and I have lost the keys to my Adventure Books Bookcase. So when I am able to locate the duplicate ones, I will confirm the spell.
Slightly longer than the last one, but not as long as I was aiming at. I can't seem to lay off cliff-hangers – severe or small.
So, how was it? The mystery deepens, and I hope it is binding enough to make you want to read more! Plus, I hope the characters are not going OOC (Out Of Character).
Tell me in your review!
- Lucille.
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