Name: Chamber of Destinies
Author: Sweet-calmness
Genre: Romance/Action/Angst
Disclaimer: I own the plot, nothing more
Chapter 2
Hermione read the letter once again to see if she got all the points. Apparently, she missed a paragraph and it read-
P.S. Hermione, just in case that anything did happen to the Grangers, and that you're all alone, I have registered a safe for you at Gringotts containing all the wealth of the Gryffindor and Merlin family. Vault 967 is now officially yours, under your name, Miss Hermione Black Gryffindor, and I hope you'll put it to good use.
After many hours of arguing with herself, Crookshanks, who was getting quite impatient after washing three times, clawed at her pyjamas to get her attention, and awoken her from the deep battle she had between her logical self and risky self. She finally decided that no matter whom she is and what her destiny is, she should try to get to Hogwarts first before jumping into any conclusions. Since there is a vault for her, she will be able to buy all the school supplies for the year.
With that final decision, she made her way to the Leaky Cauldron with Crookshanks tagging along.
She worked out her plan to how she was going to get there. She knows how to call for the knight bus, thanks to Harry and his third year trouble. With a swift flick of the wand, a huge BANG and sudden blinding light made her step backwards and cover her face.
A gigantic vehicle with a huge pair of wheels and headlights, purple body and golden letters with the words "Knight Bus" printed on it.
A man wearing a purple uniform leapt out of the bus, and spoke in a professional manner.
'Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I would be your conductor for this afternoon.'
Hermione did as she was told, and got out a few coins from her gray pyjamas pocket.
'How much will it cost to get to London?'
'That woul' be eleven sickles, but for firteen you get a chocolate, fifteen you get o' bottle o' water and a toofbrush with the calar' your choice.'
'I'd just like the ride please.' She handed Stan the money and walked over to the end of the bus. It was virtually deserted, and Hermione was grateful for that. Stan went to the back to check on her.
'You alright girl?'
'Yeah, I'm fine. Can I please not be disturbed, I want to get some sleep.'
'O' course.'
'Please wake me up when I arrive.' Stan walked off.
Time flew by pretty quickly from then on. It took about two hours to get to London Central, and by the time they got there, the sun has set and the sky was twinkling with stars, reminding Hermione awfully of Dumbledore's eyes.
She found the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron pretty quickly and walked into the dark enclosed wizard hotel. Tom the bartender was still there, chattering intimately with a lady who wore a huge purple witch hat and long red purple robes.
Everyone looked up at the sound of Hermione's arrival. Hermione looked down at herself, and realized that she was still in her pyjamas. She turned scarlet.
'I'm a witch.' Hermione stuttered. Everyone turned back to doing what they supposed to do, and did not give the girl a second glance. Hermione walked up to the front counter and Tom moved around from the person he was talking to serve her.
'May I help you?'
'I would like a room for 2 nights stay please.'
'Of course, would it just be you?'
'Yes.'
'That would be forty-two sickles and 3 knuts.' Hermione got the rest of the coins from her pocket. She counted them carefully and finds it just enough. I'll have to go to Gringotts to get some money. Tom handed her the key.
'That would be room 32. Go upstairs on your right.'
Hermione followed the stairs and up into her room. She opened the door, and finds a simple furnished bedroom. There was a single bed, a desk on the side and a small wardrobe. A balcony looked over Diagon Alley, directly down at Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions shop. She walked over to the bed, with Crookshanks following her, his fluffy tail a bit ruffled after the two long hours of sitting on the Knight Bus, sleeping. Hermione fell into the bed, sinking into the feather mattress, and fell into a deep sleep.
The bustling noise coming from the outside woke Hermione up. At her feet curled Crookshanks, who was still not quite ready for a day of hard work. Hermione got up, and went out onto the balcony. Looking down, she saw many children and people her age, walking around with groups of bags under their arms.
They're most likely to be Hogwarts students. Hermione went to the bathroom, and got cleaned up. All the filth from the past two days was washed of her in the mere 30 minutes, and she felt very refreshed after stepping out of the showers. She put on her pyjamas, having nothing else to wear. Crookshanks appeared at the doorway, apparently ready for some action with the way he flexed his sharp canines and nails. Hermione went into the room to get her vault key, and headed straight for Gringotts.
Gringotts was the most- wonkiest thing Hermione has ever seen. She walked into the huge hall nervously, and went up to the front most counter. A goblin set there, its naily fingers clicking away at the biggest rubies Hermione has ever seen in her whole life. His white oily hair, which reminded Hermione awfully of Snape, rose up and his huge brown eyes stared at Hermione expectantly.
'I would like to get Miss. Gryffindor's safe, vault 967 please.' The goblin eyed her suspiciously.
'Have you got the key?'
Hermione got out the key from her pocket and handed it to the Goblin. He examined it closely for a second, and then handed back to her. Motioning for another goblin, he told it to take Hermione to her safe.
The two went to a back door, and into a narrow stone passage way lit by flaming torches. A little cart rolled their way on a railway track towards them, and the two and Crookshanks climbed in.
The cart went of pretty quickly, but Hermione was lost in her thoughts to bother with the golden locks that blew onto her face. The torches reminded her so much of her dream, and it wasn't until the cart went to an abrupt stop did Hermione wake up from her thoughts. She got out of the cart, and followed her guide onto the little platform. The goblin pointed to the key hole, and Hermione went forward and opened the door. A huge puff of steam came out, and it revealed something to her that Hermione never thought she'd see.
You might think the room was small, comparing to the dusty door that is its entry and exit. It was nothing like what it seems in the outside. The room was bigger than the land of Hermione's house, and that was pretty big, knowing that Hermione's parents- no the Grangers, were dentists, and were pretty rich people. The room was filled with mountains and mountains of coins. Golden galleons, silver sickles and bronze knuts filled it like air. That's not all though. There were precious stones, cases and cases of what seemed like magical artefacts and jewellery. A number of moving paintings stacked in one of the corners.
Hermione's mouth fell open with an "o".
'I will leave Miss to do her work. Please give a yell when you need to get out.' He said, and disappeared.
Hermione walked into the treasure vault, taking care not to step onto any of the coins. The room was torch less, but with the amount of wizarding money and jewellery shining with the unused polish, the room was as bright as a new polished gem. She noticed a small chest in one corner, and saw her name engraved on it beautifully in italic writing. She went over it, and opened up the chest.
In it, was a velvet cloth, wrapping something very light and delicate. Hermione took of the top delicately with her index finger, and find the most beautiful piece of jewellery of all, even more then the ones she saw lying on the vault floor. It was gold, shaped into the sign of magic- the six point star. And inside the star, was another heart shaped pendant, adjoined together. In the middle of the heart, was a stone. Hermione held it up to the light to get a better look. The stone seemed to change color as it moved. Hermione rummaged through the velvet to see if there's anything else. She finds a letter.
Dear Hermione
You received the letter. This is all yours now, every last bit of our family wealth. The money is enough for you to complete your education, and way more, I should think. In this vault lie the keys to the family manor. It's more of a castle I suppose, but manor is what it's called, manor is what it is. If you ever want to go, you can get there by touching the little music box that is in the chest beside this one. It is a port key and will instantly take you to the manor when you say your name, your real name that is. Make sure you have your keys. Only the right person can get through, and not even Voldemort can get pass this spell. The vault is also heavily protected. However, the best place is probably Hogwarts, so stay there until the time is right.
You must be wondering who the necklace belong to right now. It was made by your great-great-great-something-grandfather, Godric Gryffindor himself. He also made a sword to go with the necklace, and the two are made to honour Gryffindor's name. Anyone from Gryffindor and of Gryffindor heart can use it, but only the heir of magic itself can unleash the ancient power that has been bestowed upon it. They're the most powerful when used together, along with another artefact made by Merlin. Unfortunately, our family was not able to retrieve the sword or the artefact of Merlin, and we do not know where it is. Our hope is that you find it. The necklace also changes color depending upon the wearer's mood. The stone on it is called everlasting. Unlike the sword, the necklace can only be used or worn by the Gryffindor heir. The necklace was passed down to all the women of the family. My great-grandmother (Merlin's great-great-great granddaughter) passed it onto me and I was the last one to have it. It is yours now. Keep it safe.
There must still be a lot of questions you want to ask right now. You'll come to know the answers to them all soon, I promise. Little by little, you'll understand the meaning of your life.
Signed - Gwen Katherine Gryffindor
3 August 1987
Hermione pulled the necklace around her neck and clasped it together. She felt a warm sensation running up her veins. A slight tear ran down her cheeks, and onto the ground. Mom, I love you. Hermione thought. She was going to blame everything on her mother, but then, she found out the truth.
Her mother loved her, and died for her. She was a Gryffindor, and what ever that comes her way, she's going to get through like a Gryffindor. Crookshanks purred softly to his owner. Hermione smiled and patted his head gratefully, got to work.
She found a small embroidered bag of red and gold velvet. Strolling over to the coins, she piled some of them through, making sure she got enough of each. Even after she filled the bag, the room still seemed so fall of treasures. I'm going to come back someday. But now is not the time.
She pocketed her vault key and turned back towards the exit. Taking one last look at her mother's will to her, she stepped out onto the cold platform, and the old dusty doors closed behind her without a squeak.
'I'm done here!' Hermione yelled; remember the instructions the goblin gave her before she left. She heard a pop from behind her. There appeared the same creature that was with her before, and with him was the cart.
'Ready Miss?'
'Yes I'm ready.'
The ride back went by with a blur. Hermione was to busy planning out her plan to notice anything unusual, like another cart passing beside them, with Draco Malfoy in it.
Hermione stepped out of Gringotts. The sun has risen to its fullest height, and Hermione's stomach growled from its emptiness. The teenager then looks down at herself. She was still wearing her pyjamas to her disgust, and her wand, was battered and cracked from her flee against Voldemort. She'll need a new wand. Nearby, she saw a muggle clothing shop - much to her surprise, and headed there.
The shop was bright and sunny, filled with enchanted flower petals that fall when you try something out. Hermione went through the racks, and found skirts, dresses, pants, three quarters, halter tops and jackets. Knowing that her home is probably destroyed by now, she bought quite a lot, and in the end she came out of the store, more then 4 full bags were under each of her arms.
She went back to the Leaky Cauldron to change, and find two owls on her table, each with a letter tied to their arms. She recognizes them as the school owl, seeing a Hogwarts seal on each of the letters. She opened the first letter, and let the owl go.
Dear Miss Granger,
Please note that the new school year will begin on September the
first. The Hogwarts Express will leave from King's Cross Station,
platform nine and three-quarters, as per usual, at eleven o'clock.
Sixth-years are allowed to have a dress robe ready for the formal
ball. All must attend.
A list of books for next year is enclosed.
Yours sincerely,
Professor M. McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Sixth year students will require:
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6 by Miranda Goshawk
Powers of the Potions - a Complete Guide by Dane Jawslack
Millenniums Backwards- the History of the Powerful by Ashley Drastal
How to Study for NEWTS and Pass by Zachariah Gage
Advance Runes and Occlumency by Keachler Anaea
Dangerous Beasts of North, South, East and West by Taodu Alfa
Shadowing ages, the Dark Arts by Samuel Keith
Plants and Such by Dule Keyman
Advanced Transfiguration by Kelly Osborne
Hermione got the second letter from the second owl. It seemed quite impatient waiting for Hermione while she read her first letter, and swooped out of the window as soon as she untied it from its legs.
Dear Miss Granger,
I am please to inform you that you've been made a Head Girl for
Gryffindor. Your outstanding achievements have earned you the spot. Do
not abuse the privileges. Head boys and girls will have a meeting in
the great halls after the welcoming feast.
Yours sincerely
Professor A. Dumbledore
Headmaster
Hermione didn't know whether to be happy or sad. She guessed that no one know about the attack on her house. Sadness swept through her as she imagined the Grangers lying dead in her bedroom. Now she's a Head Girl, more responsibilities are put on her shoulders, and she's not exactly sure she can take all of it. I'll think about it some other time. She went to the bathroom to finish her first intentions.
Now she wore a bright red star tee, jean shorts that were frayed at the end, and white blue joggers. Her hair was pulled up into a high pony tail, and she still carried the little red golden velvet bag. Going down to the bar, she had lunch. A bowl of vegetable soup and a piece of pumpkin pie.
In the afternoon, she headed for Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions shop. There she bought her school uniform, two dress robes. One was a simple black. It has a soft glow to it, and swishes gracefully when Hermione moved. The second was a periwinkle blue, almost white. Crookshanks was the one who find the dress, and it seemed to fit Hermione perfectly. She went to the book stores to get all her school books, and the apothecary for the potion ingredients. However, the strangest thing that happened was in Ollivanders.
Author's message: Third time's the charm, they always say!