"And you're positive that she is related to… her?"
McGonagall let a shaky breath out as she rubbed her temples. Having a child here early always caused problems (maybe problem children just showed up early?), but if the Malfoys found out exactly who they were harboring then there would be a steep price on her dear friend's head. What was Albus thinking? Curse him and his riddles.
"I am certain, Minerva. And as for what I was thinking, she was in a bad spot in her home life. She needed to be rescued to ensure her loyalty to the light."
Dumbledore smiled down at his oldest friend. He knew Minerva would love Hermione, assuming that Tonks hadn't exaggerated the young girl's inquisitive nature.
"Why now though? She has been with the Grangers for years- she couldn't stay another week and do all this normally? I'm worried about Narcissa showing interest in her. Her mother might hear the tale of this girl with her powerful, grabby magic. Then what happens?"
"All will be well Min, they can't reach her here. Now I expect Stoozy will show up any minute with the girl, and I suggest you relax that worried brow."
"I do not have a worried brow, Albus!"
With that statement, Stoozy knocked on the door, entering with Hermione.
"Alrighty young miss, this heres is Proffessy McGonagalls and Dumbledore. They'll take good care of you."
Then, Stoozy was gone with a pop, leaving the young girl with the two adults.
"I'm Hermione Granger."
Hermione stuck her hand out to McGonagall, hoping a proper introduction would make her feel less awkward. The older witch smiled at her, making Hermione wonder if wizards even shook hands? She was relieved when McGonagall finally took her hand, before saying in a Scottish brogue,
"Come on child, let's go get your school supplies."
"Are we going back to the alley? Dragon alley?"
"Diagon alley, and yes. We have to get your books, potion supplies, a wand – maybe we can even look into getting you a familiar?"
Hermione's eyes lit up at the thought of getting a furry friend. Her mum had always been against it– dogs are too rowdy and cats smell too bad. After her dad had died any chance of getting a pet had flown out the window. Minerva chuckled at the obvious excitement radiating from the girl.
"I know you're flustered lass, but that will be our last stop so perhaps we should get along?"
Hermione nodded before grabbing Minerva's elbow. Steeling herself for the unpleasant tugging and swirling of apparition.
"Go ahead, Min. We can finish this conversation at a later time. Young Hermione looks quite impatient."
The bearded wizard stared at the brunette curls, hunting for any resemblance to the cruel witch who gave her life. Seeing her bright smile, he couldn't find the similarities he and Min were so worried would show. The witch glared at him while Hermione blushed. She was young and had just learned of magic, you can't blame her for being impatient! She thought to herself while berating her own lack of control.
Minerva placed a hand over Hermione's, which was still clutching to her robes. The next moment, they were back on Diagon alley. Minerva could only hope this trip would be less adventurous than the previous one the child was on.
"Alright lass, first stop, robes. Once we get you fitted we can return after lunch and Madame Malkin will have them ready for us."
The two headed to the seamstress's shop, Minerva was relieved to see that Hermione was the only child in the store for the moment.
"Professor McGonagall! How nice to see you! I wasn't aware that you had a little one of your own? Who might you be, sweetie?"
Madame Malkin bustled over to the two witches, running measuring tape along the length of Hermione's arms before the two could even fit in a greeting.
"Hello, Mary. And to answer your question, no, Hermione is simply starting at Hogwarts next week and needs to be fitted for robes. Is everything alright Madame? You seem rather distracted this morning."
Hermione, while she had never met the woman before, couldn't help but agree as the seamstress was currently magically measuring around her head.
"Oh no, Minerva, simply busy. Busy as a bee. Earlier the Malfoys came in and ordered a dozen or so robes, so I'm busy. That is all. Now dearie, what house are you hoping to be sorted into?"
Addressing Hermione directly, the witch was able to escape from Minerva's curious gaze, which, at the mention of the Malfoy's, stiffened into a much less forgiving stare. She didn't want to have a confrontation with her friend over the cruel woman when it would interfere with good business.
"Oh, I dunno, really. I've only really met Professor McGonagall. And Auror Tonks. So I s'pose wherever they lived would be good."
"Oh you would make such a great little lioness, wouldn't she Minerva? The bold scarlet of Gryffindor would really compliment the gold in your hair."
The door chimed magically as it opened, a welcoming charm that interrupted any possible reply. To herself, though, Professor McGonagall couldn't help but agree the girl would be a welcome addition to her house. Hermione and the two older witches looked up at door, only to be greeted by the same platinum woman from before. Hermione smiled up at her, before registering the tension radiating from the two adults behind her.
"Hello, Madame, I would like to make an alteration on one of my orders. The green you showed me earlier is too bright and I simply can't allow such an expensive design to be a gaudy eyesore at the gala I will be attending. After all, a witch is only as impressive as her appearance."
With that, the hard blue eyes of Narcissa left the squat witch, sliding down onto Hermione. Her smile this time arrived less forced, a beautiful grin robbing the steeliness from her stare.
"Miss Granger, a pleasure to meet again so soon. I was almost expecting Nymphadora to keep you locked up in Hogwarts after our little exchange."
Narcissa went to approach Hermione when Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, daring the blonde to come closer. There was a silent duel of wills, but Narcissa broke the staring contest between herself and the professor. If she had looked at me like that I would've folded in half, Hermione felt almost like she should bow. What had Tonks called her? Something about the sacred 28?
Madame Malkin's measuring tape snapped closed, zooming to the front table.
"Your order will be ready before you return back to Hogwarts, Professor. Hermione, it was a pleasure to meet you."
Madame Malkin's words ushered the duo out, as she forced herself between Hermione and Narcissa, dragging the blonde woman away to look at different hues of her house color. McGonagall took the offered escape gracefully and guided Hermione to the exit.
"Come now, Miss Granger. We shall go get the rest of your things."
Two hours later, Hermione was carrying her shrunken potions equipment, parchment, quills, textbooks (and some extracurricular books about the magical world and wizard culture) in her pocket, as the professor finished her lunch. Finally they were going to look for a familiar! McGonagall wiped her mouth with a handkerchief as her plate floated back to the kitchen area of The Hopping Pot. Hermione had quickly polished off her small bowl of black bean and corn salad, and was squirming with unfettered joy.
"Shall we go on to the menagerie? Actually, you can go ahead and look around. I will go pick up the robes we ordered then join you. Stay out of trouble Miss Granger."
McGonagall could only smile as Hermione leapt up and out of her chair. Before the professor could stand, the small child had already disappeared.
"Patience should be taught early."
McGonagall sighed to herself before leaving back for Madame Malkin's.
Hermione ran into the shop and was amazed at the creatures she found. Upon entering, she practically crashed through the hovering glass orb that contained a writhing mass of snakes. Reading the tag she realized it was actually one creature.
"40% OFF! I WAS A NESSST OF VIPERSSS BUT A POTIONSSS ACCIDENT MELTED MY BROTHERSSS AND I TOGETHER. IF YOU DESSSIRE A PET THAT PRODUCESSS 12X THE VENOM OF ONE, I'M YOUR DREAM. PLEASSSE SSSEE SSSSSTORE MANAGER."
Hermione shuddered before ducking under the aquarium and looking for a furrier friend. She made eye contact with what appeared to be a small lion and, distracted, didn't realize she crashed into someone. The boy yelped before turning on her.
"Mother!"
Staring at the blond boy, she thought that he couldn't have been much older than her. Definitely too old to cry for his mum. It wasn't until his mom appeared that she realized exactly who they were.
"Malfoys?"
Hermione whispered their name to herself, worried about how the professor would react to the news she had crashed into the very family she was supposed to be avoiding. At least, I think that was what she meant by 'Stay out of trouble.' Hermione was doubly worried about getting on the wrong side of the family, because even though she was new to the wizarding world, she understood politics and the potential the Malfoys had to create dangerous situations. Like this one. Until now, she had only had positive interactions with the adult witch and had been told (warned?) that she was powerful.
"Ah, Draco, I see you have met Hermione. This is the little witch I was writing Auntie Bella about. I trust you will look out for her in school?"
After the petulant boy nodded, Narcissa turned to Hermione.
"I was watching you connect with the kneazle. I would love to get him for you as a gift. A welcoming to the wizarding world, if you will."
"The kneazle?"
Hermione wasn't sure, but if she had to guess, that giant cat she had locked eyes with was a kneazle. After all, she hadn't been nearly as taken with any of the other creatures as she had when the feline's oddly human eyes had pierced into her soul.
"That monstrous orange beast. He will be a good protector for you."
"Mother, what do you mean by this? Welcoming a mudblood into our world. When father hears of this he won't be lenient with you."
Narcissa quickly grabbed her son's arm, which has been tugging at her robe sleeve, whipping him around to stare into his now fearful eyes. Her grip was like iron and Hermione hadn't seen her face contorted with such rage before.
"Draco, if your ever father hears anything about what I do with my money then I will be forced to obliviate you AND punish you. Apologize to Miss Granger, what you said was terribly rude and no son of mine will speak to or in front of a lady that way."
Draco was shocked, but he knew better than to piss off his mom. He stared down, refusing to meet Hermione's eyes.
"My apologies, Granger."
Draco skulked off towards the miniature dragon enclosure, shooting one last glare at Hermione's feet. Hermione looked up to see Narcissa was now holding the bundle of orange fluff. The blonde woman kneeled down to the girl's height, handing her the cat.
"Draco isn't all bad. I think you will make excellent friends, in fact. And I would love to get to know more about you. In October, Hogwarts opens the school for the students to visit the local village. That privilege isn't allowed for first year students, but Draco has special permissions to come home. I would love it if you would join him."
"That sounds lovely, but I don't know–"
"Excellent. I shall owl Dumbledore and let him know what to expect."
"Miss Granger! I have been hunting for you in this incessant crowd for ages. Please come along now. Madame Malfoy, you have been warned before to stay away from Miss Granger. I don't understand what a woman of your age and status would want with a muggleborn child but I will alert the authorities if this behavior doesn't cease."
McGonagall's entrance was met with hostility from the blonde witch. She recoiled as if she had been slapped before responding to the Scottish woman's barbs.
"I am interested solely in her magic, Professor. I know you can all sense her power, and judging by the company you surround her with, I can assume you are trying to pull her into the lion's den, so to speak. I will find out what is happening, and hopefully, what has happened. Good day, Professor. Hermione, I will be in touch."
McGonagall fumed as the posh witch collected her son and left The Magical Menagerie, before pulling her own charge out. Hermione was still holding the beast Narcissa had handed her and tried to say something to the angered professor, who continued to ignore the flustered brunette. Hermione turned to look for the shopkeep, but he just smiled at her, pointing to the door where the Malfoys had exited. How did I not notice her paying for the kneazle?
"..foolish. How long were you talking? That family is a menace and you shouldn't be near them much less speaking with Lady Malfoy."
"Why? What has she done? When we meet she is always kind to me. She bought me this kneazle."
Hermione lifted the magical being up to McGonagall to inspect. This was the first time the Scottish witch had noticed the creature. She looked at him, letting out a sniff.
"That is the last thing that woman will ever give you. We are returning to the castle."
With a huff and a snap, the two witches appeared outside Hogwarts. Hermione trudged up the flights of stairs to her room from the night before, and until now, hadn't remembered the mysterious black book that appeared to her. Between that and the day's interactions with Lady Malfoy, Hermione had a lot to think about.
