Disclaimer: I do not own any Harry Potter related stuff, characters or anything else.
(A/N: Please, if you take the time to read my story, please spare just a few of your minutes to click the review button and send me your comments. Thanks! Smiles .)
Hermione's Troubles:
Chapter Seven:
"Hermione, Hermione, wake up!" A soft voice echoed in Hermione's head. Then another voice, Zoe's, cut rudely into Hermione's sleep.
"Oi, GET UP! It's CHRISTMAS!" Zoe announced loudly.
"Hnuh?" Hermione said blearily, opening one eye. "Augh! The sun!" She exclaimed as the bright light filtering through an open window struck her face.
"Merry Christmas Hermione!" Lily said ecstatically, hugging Hermione as soon as she sat up.
"Yeah, Merry Christmas!" Angelica said cheerfully from the other side of the room. Zoe's big, grinning face suddenly clouded Hermione's view.
"Good Morning Sunshine!" She said evilly. "Merry Christmas!" She lobbed a pillow at the time-traveler. It hit Hermione directly in the face.
"Mwumf!" She exclaimed as she got a mouthful of a feather pillow. "Merry Christmas you guys!" She said happily, smiling around the room. Angelica was sitting on the end of her bed, smiling and opening presents. Renae was lounging in the window seat. She nodded at Hermione, then went back to staring out the window and opening packages. Hermione almost sighed. Two weeks had gone by. Almost nothing had happened, although James and Sirius kept smiling mischievously and talking quietly in corners. Renae's composure towards Hermione was still an icy front, resisting Hermione's every attempt to melt it. Zoe was grinning evilly, armed with cushions, and Lily was standing beside Hermione's bed.
"OH MY GOSH!" A scream rent the air. "He – he sent me a PRESENT!" Angelica proclaimed. Everyone knew without saying that she was referring to Sirius.
"Oh Angelica, that's fantastic!" Lily said warmly, bouncing over and hugging her friend. Zoe immediately ran over and sat beside the two, saying excitedly,
"What is it what is it what is it?" Hermione walked over more sedately and sat down. Renae looked over with interest from the window-seat, but showed no inspiration to move. Angelica looked gratefully at Hermione, straight in the eyes, and Hermione smiled back. Angelica looked at the present in her lap, hands shaking. She picked up the card that had fallen of the package with Angelica's exclamation and opened the pack of it.
"Pull it out!" Lily said gently to her friend, eyes gleaming. With trembling fingers she slipped the card out of the envelope and opened it.
Dear Angelica.
Merry Christmas!
From Sirius.
That was all it said.
"Oh." Zoe said disparately. "Is that all it says?" Lily glared at her.
"He sent you a card!" The red-head exclaimed, hugging her friend. "That's so sweet! Open the present!" Angelica smiled weakly. She picked up the parcel, wrapped in midnight blue paper, and hesitantly opened one end. Something slipped out of the opened side and everyone crowded around to see what it was.
"It's a box!" Zoe said, bouncing.
"It's a jewellery box." Hermione gasped. Angelica looked like she was going to faint. She slowly opened the dove grey velvet case. Everyone gasped, and Renae leant over to get a better look.
Inside the box was a stunning gold necklace, tiny links of sunlight coloured metal formed the chain, and hanging off a pendant was a small, teardrop shaped ruby.
"Wow." Lily said softly. "Angelica, it's beautiful." She whispered. Angelica nodded slowly, the necklace dripping across her hands. Tears of happiness and delight shone in her dark eyes.
"Hey Hermione, what'd you get?" Zoe asked bluntly, unfazed by the gorgeous gift.
"I don't know. I haven't opened anything yet." She climbed back onto her bed and looked through the parcels.
"Oookay… I have… one from Sirius, James, and Remus," She paused, and both Angelica and Lily gave her highly significant looks. "Ah, and one from you Lily, and you, Angelica." She finished.
"Well, open them!" Zoe demanded.
"Alright already." Hermione picked up the nearest present, which was from Lily. She opened it to find a book titled 'A Detailed Study of Werewolves and Lycanthropy, by Mari Loup.' "Thanks Lily!" Hermione replied, getting up to hug the willowy girl. Then she sunk down onto the bed.
"This one's from James." She announced to the three onlookers. Lily narrowed her eyes at the parcel. Hermione brushed a piece of her bushy hair out of her eyes, feeling awkward. Opening the gift, inside she found a box of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. "Cool!" She grinned. Lily looked relieved. "Ah, this one's from Sirius." She announced, reading the gift-tag. Angelica looked at her worriedly. Hermione tore the wrapping paper to reveal a ton of Pumpkin Pasties and Cauldron Cakes. Angelica smiled. "Er, this one's from Angelica." Hermione said, opening the package. "Thanks Angelica!" She exclaimed when she'd opened the present and found a scarlet scarf. "And this last one's from Remus." She said blushing. Renae got off the window seat and walked over.
"What is it?" She inquired icily. Hermione opened the gift. Inside was a heap of Chocolate Frogs. Hermione's enthusiasm dimmed slightly, but not much. "He sent me a present!" She thought happily, smiling.
"What'd you get off Remus?" Zoe asked, blatantly ignoring the hostility between Renae and Hermione.
"I got a big bottle of butterbeer." Fiona said snidely. Then she strode out of the room. Zoe shrugged and followed her.
"Hey, I wonder if the boys are up yet!" Lily pondered. "Let's go down." Angelica was still sitting on the floor holding the necklace in her hands. Hermione jumped up and quickly changed out of her pajamas and into some warmer clothing. When she emerged from the bathroom she found Lily and Angelica still waiting for her, although Angelica was wearing the necklace and beaming happily.
"Who's the jewelry from?" Hermione asked quietly, noticing Lily's new bracelet, earrings and necklace.
"The earrings and necklace," Lily replied, gesturing to the silver and emerald teardrop earrings and necklace, "are from James. This," She paused hesitantly, "is from Remus." Hermione looked at the bracelet on the wrist Lily had held out. It was a thin, delicate gold chain, with tiny gold charms on it. The charms Hermione could see were a cloud, a star, a heart, a leaf, and a crescent moon.
"Oh." Hermione's happiness shrank as she remembered what Remus had said to Harry about Lily. Angelica looked at her, concern written in every line of her face.
"Hermione? Hermione, look at me." Lily said gently. "We know you like Remus." They both nodded. "And Remus seems to like me." She shook her head, red hair fluttering. "And we know that Renae likes Remus. Well, at the moment." Lily added. Hermione met the sparkling emerald green eyes, her brown eyes misty.
"Yeah." She shrugged.
"But I like James." Lily emphasized.
"Then you'd better not let him know who the bracelet is from." Angelica warned.
"I like James." Lily repeated to Hermione. "And when Remus finally realizes that, there'll be room in his view for someone else." She walked over to the door. "Now, I'm going downstairs, I can hear the boys laughing down there." She said with finality. "Coming?" Hermione walked over and Angelica stood up as the walked out the door. On the upstairs landing Lily looked Hermione directly in the eyes and said "Smile." Hermione couldn't help it, she had to smile. Lily smiled back and the three girls walked down the spiraling stairs.
As soon as they hit the common room, Angelica flew across the room to hug Sirius, who looked bemused.
"Thank you!" She whispered to him.
"Merry Christmas." He said softly back. Hermione could only just hear them.
"Thanks for your presents guys! Merry Christmas!" The Granger announced. Sirius and Angelica were edging towards the alcove that led to the portrait hole.
"Bye all!" Angelica announced. James grinned wickedly as the new couple left the common room.
"So, Lily, did you like my gift?" James said, striding over to where Lily and Hermione were standing.
"Yes, I did. Thank you James." Lily leant over and kissed him on the cheek. "Merry Christmas!" James went a brilliant shade of red.
"Who gave you that?" He asked, lifting her hand and looking at the charm bracelet. Over his shoulder, Lily looked at Hermione. Hermione glanced at where Remus was, currently trying to fend off Renae from the arm of his chair. She nodded slightly. Remus was too busy to hear them talking.
"My aunt Carrie." She lied smoothly.
"Oh." James replied. "It suits you." Lily smiled, but Hermione noticed there was a tiny hint of pain in her face.
"Well, do you have any food? I'm starving." Lily said, abruptly changing the subject. Lily and James walked off towards a table that was laden with food. Hermione stood there, just staring around the room. She felt tears prick at her eyes.
"I should be in my time." She thought sadly. "Back with Harry, Ron, Ginny…" Her thoughts trailed off sadly. "I haven't even been here a month, and Professor Dumbledore said I stayed here for a few months. That means it will probably be sometime in February I go back. And that's more than two months away." She sniffled. "I need to get away from all this." She thought sadly.
Grabbing her new book she edged towards the exit to the Common Room. She managed to slip unnoticed outside as James was actually treating Lily nicely and had her attention, and Remus was staring dreamily at Lily while fending off Renae, who looked annoyed. Hermione kept walking along the corridors. Finally she reached the Library. Rounding a corner, she came face-to-face with Vanessa, who had tears pouring down her face. Seeing Hermione she started, then settled down again.
"Oh, it's you." She said miserably. "Hi Hermione." Forgetting her own troubles, Hermione sat down on the window seat next to the Ravenclaw.
"What's the matter?" She asked, concern filling her eyes.
"I was basically just kicked out of my Common Room." She said tearfully. "Everyone was opening presents, laughing, eating, and completely ignoring me." She stated.
"Why?" Hermione asked in shock.
"They don't like me." She sniffled. "It's been this way ever since my first year. The others don't like me because I'm not as fast as them."
"But, in Transfiguration, when I first met you, you were faster than any of them!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Yeah. See, I'm fast at being able to do the practical part, but when it comes to tests or assignments or anything, I fail. I only got one owl. One!" She said despondently. "The only reason I'm taking NEWT subjects at ALL is because Professor Dumbledore intervened. And all the Ravenclaws know it!" She cried. Hermione put an arm around her friend, placing her book beside her.
"That's terrible!" She said in shock. "You're House here should be like your family!" She quoted, remembering Professor McGonagall's description on her first day.
"They've always disliked me, and I've never done anything malicious to them at all!" Vanessa wailed. A loud shushing noise came from the direction of the Librarians desk. Hermione was in shock.
"Have you said anything about it? Like, to Professor Miloket? He's your Head of House, isn't he? Or to Professor Dumbledore?"
"No." She admitted, shaking her head.
"Well, hop up then." Hermione instructed, standing up. She pulled the Ravenclaw to her feet.
"Why?" Vanessa asked curiously, wiping her eyes.
"Because we," Hermione informed her, "are going to pay a visit to Professor Dumbledore." Vanessa shook her head wildly, her black wavy hair rippling with the motion. "Yes." Hermione responded firmly.
Grabbing Vanessa's arm she marched out of the Library, dragging Vanessa along with her.
When the two girls reached the stone gargoyle guarding Professor Dumbledore's office, it was to find Professor Dumbledore standing outside it.
"Hello." He said cheerfully, not a bit surprised to see them. "Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas to you too, Professor!" The two girls replied chirpily.
"Ah, I was wondering if we could talk to you, in your office." Hermione asked politely. Professor Dumbledore nodded.
"Yes, that shouldn't be a problem. Except that I can't get into my office. I've forgotten the password." He said jovially, smiling. Hermione and Vanessa exchanged glances. "Droobles Best Blowing Bubblegum!" Dumbledore told the gargoyle. Nothing happened. "Er…"
"Chocolate Frogs?" Hermione suggested. "Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans?" Nothing happened.
At that moment the young Professor McGonagall walked along the hallway.
"Professor Dumbledore," She lilted, "May I talk to you?" She asked quietly, glancing at the two girls.
"Yes Minerva, you may, although I must see to these two students first." He replied, motioning to the two girls. "And I seem to have forgotten the password to my office…" He mused.
"Acid Pops." The younger McGonagall stated, shaking her head. A bemused smile was on her face as she looked up at the older man. The stone gargoyle stepped aside to let them pass.
"Thank you Minerva." Dumbledore said gratefully.
"No problem at all Professor. I'll come back later, shall I?" Dumbledore nodded, and Minerva walked off.
"After you." Dumbledore said courteously, motion to the spiral staircase behind the gargoyle. Hermione and Vanessa climbed up the stairs and stood outside Albus's office. Professor Dumbledore emerged on the landing. "Go in, sit." He said, motioning to the door.
Hermione walked through the door, Vanessa in her wake, and sat down in an armchair infront of the Headmasters desk. Albus walked in and sat down opposite from the girls. "So." He stated. "I believe you wanted to talk to me about something?" A looked at the pair over his half-moon spectacles.
"Er, yes Professor." Hermione said awkwardly. "You see, I was going to the Library, and in there I saw Vanessa. She was really upset." Vanessa blushed scarlet.
"Continue." Dumbledore replied.
"Well, I asked why, and she told me. Apparently her Housemates don't like her because she isn't as fast as them." Dumbledore surveyed the two.
"You see Professor," Vanessa piped up, her face an incredible colour of crimson; "They don't like me because I'm not as clever as them. I can do the prac part easily in lessons, but anything else I fail." She said miserably. "All the other Ravenclaws know that you intervened so that I could do my NEWT subjects." She continued. "They just don't like me. It's been this way ever since I started coming here." She admitted. "And I've never done anything to deserve it."
"My dear," Professor Dumbledore said kindly, "You should have told someone. Me, your Head of House, or another Professor. That cannot be allowed to happen. But as it is so late in your schooling, what did you think I could do about it?" He said gently.
"She didn't want to come here." Hermione admitted, breaking in to the conversation. "I made her come. I thought perhaps she could change Houses. Maybe come to Gryffindor with me, unless she has a different opinion." Vanessa nodded.
"I'd love to be in Gryffindor sir!" She said, smiling. "Hermione's basically the first friend I've had since I've been here." Professor Dumbledore looked thoughtful.
"Hmm…" He said slowly. "I'll see what can be arranged. Sit on the stool for me please." He said, pointing to the three legged stool that was sitting in an alcove. Vanessa glanced warily at Hermione before rising and sitting on the stool. Professor Dumbledore stood up and reached to a high shelf on the wall behind the stool, bringing down the Sorting Hat. "We'll see what the Hat says." Dumbledore said finally, placing it on Vanessa's head. Suddenly the Hat spoke.
"Yes Headmaster?" It croaked. "You woke me up." It complained.
"Sorry." Dumbledore apologized to Godric Gryffindor's hat. "I want to know whether Vanessa here should change Houses, to Gryffindor in particular. She's in Ravenclaw now." Dumbledore requested. The Hat was silent for a moment.
"Yes." The Hat said at length. "As a Ravenclaw she has fantastic potential, but I see now that I was wrong to place her there. In her first year she showed amazing intelligence, causing me to place her in Ravenclaw. But now I see that although the intelligence is still there, Gryffindor would be a better place to put her." The Hat said. Vanessa burst into smiles.
"Thank you." Dumbledore told the Hat, lifting it off Vanessa's head and back onto it's shelf.
"So am I to go to Gryffindor now?" Vanessa asked cautiously.
"Yes. It seems that you are to be moved, even though it has never occurred before." Professor Dumbledore said kindly, smiling at the dark haired little girl.
"It does seem strange though..." The Sorting Hat spoke suddenly, making everyone except Dumbledore jump in fright. "That Rowena Ravenclaw's descendant should become a Gryffindor." Dumbledore looked curiously at the Hat, and Vanessa looked confused.
"But, I'm not a descendant of Rowena Ravenclaw!" She exclaimed.
"Explain please." Dumbledore said to the Hat.
"Although maybe not so unusual…" The Hat added as an afterthought. Dumbledore reached up and grabbed the Hat, placing it on his desk.
"Speak." Dumbledore commanded. There was a tense silence.
"Well, you know that there were four founders of Hogwarts. Rowena Ravenclaw, Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, and Helga Hufflepuff." The Hat said, stating the obvious. "And you know that Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin were once the best of friends, although they disagreed about some things. The main thing you remember them for disagreeing about was the exclusion of students from non wizarding families."
"Yes." Dumbledore said, looking closely at the Hat and nodding.
"Well, the other thing they disagreed on was…" The hat paused.
"What is it?" Vanessa said impatiently. "And how does this relate to me?"
"Rowena Ravenclaw." The Hat said simply. Hermione gasped, and Vanessa looked astounded. Dumbledore looked at the Hat with a gleam in his eye.
"You mean that Godric and Salazar argued over Rowena?" He asked quickly.
"Yes. At the same time that they fought about the purebloods." The Hat replied. "Well, Rowena like Gryffindor, and Salazar lost both arguments."
"You mean…" Vanessa said slowly, putting two and two together, "That I'm the descendant of both Rowena Ravenclaw and Godric Gryffindor?" She said in shock.
"Yes." The Hat said simply. "Your great-great-great-great-great Grandmother on your mother's side was their daughter. You are the heir to both Gryffindor and Ravenclaw." Vanessa suddenly crumpled to the floor.
"Miss Granger, get Professor McGonagall, now." Dumbledore said as he saw Vanessa faint. Hermione hurried out the door.
"Professor McGonagall!" She yelled, catching sight of the Professor as she tore through the halls. "Professor Dumbledore needs you in his office, right now!" She said desperately, sprinting over to Minerva.
"What do you mean by this?" McGonagall replied, running along the halls with Hermione.
"My friend – Vanessa – Sorting Hat – Vanessa heir – Gryffindor – and – Ravenclaw." Hermione gasped quietly. Professor McGonagall paled and ran faster. They ran up the stairs, three at a time, Hermione slightly ahead, and plunged into Dumbledore's office.
"Ah, Minerva." Dumbledore said calmly. "Thank you Hermione."
"That's – alright – Professor." Hermione panted back.
"So – Professor – Hermione mentioned – Vanessa is – heir?" McGonagall questioned. Dumbledore nodded and motioned to the unconscious form on his floor. It appeared that Albus had put a cushion under her head.
"Yes. That's true." Professor Dumbledore divulged. "The Sorting Hat has just revealed to us that when Slytherin and Gryffindor were arguing over whether to let muggle-borns into Hogwarts, they were also arguing over Rowena. And apparently Gryffindor won the argument." Professor McGonagall looked at her boos in disbelief.
"So… Vanessa Esprit is the heir to both Ravenclaw and Gryffindor?" She said weakly. "But – that has to be the most important revelation ever to be made in this century!" She exclaimed. Down on the floor, Vanessa stirred.
"Look, she's waking up." Hermione interrupted the two adults. She knelt down beside Vanessa and helped the girl to sit up. "Hi." She said gently.
"Ah… hello Hermione." Vanessa said weakly.
"Professor Dumbledore," Minerva said anxiously, "No one can ever know who she is." Professor Dumbledore nodded.
"Vanessa, you say you have no close friends here at Hogwarts?" He inquired.
"No friends at all apart from Hermione." Vanessa replied honestly, her green eyes meeting his twinkly blue ones.
"Well, it's been decided." He said resolutely. "You shall be moved to Gryffindor. If anyone asks, just say that you felt Gryffindor was a better place for you, and I agreed." He instructed. "And tell no-one, not even your family, what you have learned here today, Miss Esprit. Or should I saw Miss Gryffindor-Ravenclaw." He said impishly. "Please wait outside, I need to have a private word with Hermione. Minerva, would you step outside too please?" Minerva nodded, and the two people headed out the door, and closed it behind them.
"Miss Granger," Dumbledore said, falling back into the use of her surname, "You're feeling lonely, aren't you?" He said gently. Hermione nodded, not trusting herself to speak. "I understand. Now, I was wondering if there was any way either of us could get a message back to your time. I need to know if Vanessa will be okay in the future. I know for a fact she is the only remaining descendant." Hermione thought hard.
"I'm sorry Professor, I just don't see how." She shrugged. Over in the corner, Fawkes let out a long, musical note, which soothed the anguish Hermione was feeling. "Fawkes!" She said suddenly. "Phoenixes have the ability to travel through space and time!" She said triumphantly. Professor Dumbledore knelt down to be on Fawkes's level.
"Fawkes, my friend, I need you to take a message to me, on the 14th of December 2005." He instructed. He picked up a quill and spare piece of parchment and scrawled 'Find out if Vanessa Esprit lives.' In spirally thin writing. He passed the note to Fawkes, and the phoenix disappeared with a flash of flame. A few seconds later Fawkes reappeared, carrying a different piece of parchment. The note read:
'Vanessa Esprit. Murdered by Voldemort in 1990.'
Hermione looked at the parchment in shock. Vanessa would die in three years. Professor Dumbledore looked grave.
"Professor…" Hermione said softly.
"The future is not certain. You being here changes your own future, although not by much. On the 1st of February, come here with Vanessa." He instructed. "You may go now."
"Professor," Hermione said cautiously, "you said, when I left, that almost no time would pass in my absence. So how could the future you do that research if almost no time passes?"
"It's a thing of time. You couldn't possibly understand it fully, even I don't. While you're here, time is not frozen in your time. But when you go home, it will be just after the time that you left. Where you were, time is flowing forwards in the natural cause of events that would happen, but you aren't there. When you go back, time will simply resume from when you left, and time will flow on, still in the natural course of events, although that time you will be there. Does that make any sense?" Hermione shook her head. "Ah well." Dumbledore said with a smile. "You may go now, Professor McGonagall is waiting for me, and Vanessa is waiting for you." He said with a smile.
"Thank you Professor." Hermione said politely. She walked out the door.
"Hi." Vanessa said chirpily. Minerva nodded to Hermione and walked in to the office, sealing the door behind her. "Can you believe I'm the heir to Ravenclaw and Gryffindor?" She said excitedly. "It seems so UNREAL!"
"Shhh!" Hermione gently quieted her friend. "The more times you say that out loud, the more chance of someone overhearing it. You never have to unsay anything that no-one heard in the first place." She quoted. Vanessa nodded in understanding.
"But I'm to be in Gryffindor!" She said excitedly, hugging Hermione. "Thank you SO much." She smiled, tears of happiness glowing in her eyes.
The happy duo made their way to the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Butterbeer." Hermione said. The Fat Lady looked shocked.
"You can't tell a student from another House the password!" She said in a scandalized voice. "She can't enter, either!"
"But, please, Professor Dumbledore just made me a Gryffindor." Vanessa begged. "Please?"
The Fat Lady stared at them.
"I will not let either of you in until I get clearance from Professor Dumbledore." The Fat Lady said determinedly.
"And they have it." A voice said from behind them. Hermione and Vanessa turned to see Professor Dumbledore walking along the corridor. The Fat Lady craned her neck to see above the two students.
"Professor Dumbledore, the newcomer gave the password right beside the Ravenclaw, and they tried to both enter." She claimed, looking intently at the Headmaster. "Then they had the audacity to claim the Ravenclaw is now a Gryffindor!"
"Fair Lady," Dumbledore said soothingly, "I am sorry I did not get a message to you earlier, and have therefore caused this misunderstanding." He said pacifically. "Vanessa Esprit is indeed now a Gryffindor." He confirmed. "The house-elves will move your stuff." He added kindly to the raven-haired girl.
"So… the girl is to be a Gryffindor?" The Fat Lady asked in confusion.
"Yes. With every allowance made to the other Gryffindors." He stated. The Fat Lady shook her head.
"Okay…" She said in a voice that made her confirmation sound highly skeptical.
"Thank you, Fair Lady." Dumbledore said kindly. "I apologize for the misunderstanding. Butterbeer." He stated. The portrait swung forward.
"Thank you Professor." Hermione said gratefully.
"Thank you!" Vanessa smiled, her green eyes shining with happiness. Then, surprising everyone, including herself, she threw her arms around the older man and hugged him gleefully. When she stepped back, blushing crimson, Professor Dumbledore smiled at the two, then walked off down the hall, whistling.
Hermione and Vanessa climbed through the hole behind the portrait. As they straightened up in the little alcove shielding them from view, Hermione felt a sudden twinge of apprehension. How would her new year mates and fellow Gryffindors react to Vanessa? Also, how would they react to her bringing a Ravenclaw, even an ex-Ravenclaw, into their Tower?
Hermione gulped, and then her and Vanessa, the two newest Gryffindors walked around the corner to face the other eight Gryffindor students.
(A/N: So, what do you think? I wanted something BIG in Vanessa's future, as well as a reason as to why she belonged in TWO Houses, so I hoped it worked out okay? Please, remember, if you took the time to read my story, puh-lease review. I really appreciate every single comment made.)