Thanks to all those who left reviews for the first chapter. I really appreciate it.
I had some sort of a dilemma with the rating. At first, I rated it M, but then I thought that maybe it was a little too mush for just a bit of bad language, so I changed to T. It may change again in the future, but for now, T is it.
So, this chapter shows Hermione's point of view.
In this story, Hermione comes from France, so I thought it would be cool to put a little bit of French in here. I'm french, so it wasn't very difficult. But don't worry, the translations are there, so it's still understandable. Although it's not so bad as she only speaks french when she speaks to her mother (and we don't see her very often) or when she talks to herself (what Hermione doesn't do pretty much because she's a very rational person... lol).
For those who would like a bigger challenge, the fic is still here, on this site, in the french section. If you would like to read it, that'd be really cool. The chapters are posted at the same time on each version of the fic.
So that's it. I hope you enjoy readint this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. And don't forget to leave reviews!
To Where Dreams May Come
Chapter 2
Hermione Granger sat silently, staring out the window. The urban landcape passed swiftly before her eyes as the car made its way through the city. She grimaced at the strong smell of smoke that filled the vehicle. London was very different from what she imagined. The air was cold even though it was only the first week of October. Cars were passing by slowly and pedestrians on the sidewalks shouted at careless and impatient drivers. Hermione was almost nauseous. It was hard to bear for her. After all, she'd been living in France's countryside since forever. Hermione glared at her mother.
"Ne me fais pas ces yeux-là!" the woman snapped.
--Don't you look at me like that!--
"Je déteste cette ville," Hermione muttered.
--I hate this city.--
"Il faudra bien t'y faire pourtant."
--You'll have to get used to it.--
Hermione had lost her father six months before. She still couldn't believe it. His death was the reason she was in this situation right now. Her parents, both dentists, had held their own clinic together for years, but after her husband's death, Emma Granger realised she couldn't keep it running all alone. So she found an appartment in Manchester and borrowed money from the bank to open her own clinic downtown. When she told her daughter they were moving, the relationship between the two quickly deteriorated. They never got along well, but now it was so much worse. Hermione and her mother were constantly shouting, they couldn't understand each other. Emma Granger then decided it would be better for them to be seperated. She found a place for Hermione in a London bording all-girls school, St. Mary's Catholic College. She told Hermione it was going to be good for both of them, they could have time to think and rest and maybe when they'd see each other again, things would be better. Hermione doubted that.
She had been so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice when, outside the car, the landscape started changing. There were no tall buildings now, but only brick walls and empty streets. It almost seemed like a sci-fi movie. Then, suddenly, the bricks turned into metal fences. Hermione blinked and raised her head. On the top of the fence was thick, barbed wires and cameras were set all over the place. Beneath it, she could see a grey-bricked building surrounded by a cemented backyard filled with picnic tables and basketball courts.
"Qu'est-ce que c'est?" Hermione asked her mother, her eyes never leaving the building.
-- What is that? --
"Comment veux-tu que je le sache?"
-- How do you want me to know? --
The conversation ended right there. Now the car was passing by the front of the building. The fence was replaced by an elegant portal next to which stood two small cabins probably used by gardians. Hermione watched the scene silently. A large black-stoned staircase led to wooden doors and was divided by silver railings. In front of the building, stood the bronze statue of a man, standing proudly with his hand towards the sky. Three green flags completed the picture, just next to the parking lot on the left. The right part of the building seemed older. The windows were barred.
Next to the road was a black stone plaque on which was written with silver letters: "St. Brutus' Secure Center for Criminal Boys."
When Hermione's eyes left St. Brutus', she noticed that, just on the other side of the street, a low stone garden wall surrounded a big manor. The outside walls were covered with green plants which made it even more mysterious. In front of the mansion was a big marble plaque indicating that this was her new school. St. Mary's Catholic College. Her mother parked the car behind the building and got out, without even looking at her. Hermione sighed, then followed.
"Maman..." she started.
-- Mom...---
"Hermione, ne recommence pas, on en a déjà assez discuté," she replied suddenly without looking at her.
-- Hermione, don't start that again. We already talked about it. --
Then they were silent for sometime. They unloaded Hermione's luggage from the car and entered her new school, carrying her many suitcases.
The entrace hall was majestic, finely decorated with artistic paintings and sculptures that were probably worth even more than the building itself. Hermione looked around and smiled. She followed her mother to the middle of the hall where stood a mahogany desk behind which sat a woman. She smiled when she saw them. She had long dark hair, big brown eyes and very white teeth that made her smile even more beautiful. She wore a fitting business suit. Hermione smiled at her.
"Hello, I'm Anna. You must be Hermione. The headmistress has been expecting you," she said politely to the newcomers.
"I'm very sorry but I'm quite late," said Hermione's mother, her tone showing she wasn't sorry at all. "I can't stay. I'm sure Hermione will be fine. Good day to you."
Then she left, without even looking at her daughter. Hermione managed to hold back her tears. For a moment, Anna seemed shocked, but her smile quickly came back.
"Follow me, Miss Granger. I will lead you to the headmistress' office. She will be very happy to finally meet you."
- - -
The headmistress, Miss McGonagall, was a severe-looking woman with a friendly smile. She told Hermione everything about the college's history and the establisment's rules, then gave her a brand new school uniform. After a quick visit of the huge manor, she finally showed Hermione her dorm room.
It was a very pretty room that looked incredibly comfortable. There were four four-poster beds and the walls were covered with ancient tapestries. The floor was made of old wood, just like all the furniture in the room and close to every bed was a drawer and a desk with a computer. Hermione sighed with joy. The room screamed of wealth and comfort. There were two tall windows framed by heavy red velvet curtains.
Her suitcases were already there, on the bed she supposed was hers. It was just beside a window. She stepped farther in the room, put her freshly folded uniform on the bedside table and sat down on the bed. It was so comfortable. She smiled again.
On the bed next to hers sat a small brown teddy bear with a cute little red bow around its neck. The wall close to the bed was almost entirely covered with photographs. Hermione stood up to take a closer look. The first one showed a little blond girl blowing her birthday candles and, on the next one, was the same girl, riding a poney. She looked older and older on each photograph, but she always had a wide smile on her face.
There were other pictures on the drawer, but they were framed and all in black and white. Hermione carefully took one in her hands. It showed a small girl - not the same than the one on the other pictures - sitting on a swing in a parc. She wore a white summer dress, her bare feet were burried in the sand below the swings and her long blond hair were flowing elegantly in the wind. She had a sad look on her face. The parc around her was filled with weeds and behind her, was an old, rusted tourniquet and a metal fence amongst climbing plants.
"Hello," said a voice behind Hermione.
She turned suddenly. On the doorstep was the girl of the photographs. She wore the St. Mary's uniform: the white shirt with a blue vest and a short grey skirt. Her blond hair were tied up in a messy poneytail and she was smiling. Hermione smiled back.
"You like photography?" she asked.
"Oh, I don't really know anything about that," said Hermione.
The other girl burst out laughing. She had a strange laugh, almost like sobs. She stepped in the room and closed the door behind her. She approached Hermione and looked at the picture she was still holding.
"Oh, that's my favourite," she said. "I just love all the shadows in the background."
"It's beautiful," Hermione agreed.
The other girl threw a few books on the bed that was obviously hers and sat down.
"I'm Lavander Brown, by the way. Are you Hermione? They told me you were coming."
Hermione put the photograph back on the drawer and went back to her bed to start unpacking.
"Yes, that's me," she said simply.
"You're from France, aren't you? That's where the accent is from..."
"In fact, I was born here, but my parents moved there was I was about two years old. My father inherited his parent's house in the countryside"
Lavander sighed.
"Ah, the countryside. I bet it's really pretty there. I'd like to go someday. There must be so many beautiful places to photograph. But my parents are way too busy to take me. My father's a surgeon, see. I usually spent the holidays with him, but he's very busy with his work. Sometimes, he manages to spent some time with me, but everything's always so complicated when it comes to him."
Hermions smiled.
"I understand. My mother's a dentist. She's always working."
"My mother's always traveling. I rarely ever see her. Haven't seen her for a year now. It's quite surprising that my parents are still together. Well, I think they are. It's quite weird. When my mother comes home for the holidays, it's like she's some kind of stranger. I think they communicate by internet."
"It must be weird, really," said Hermione putting clothes in a drawer.
There was a moment of silence, then...
"But I have to admit that I'd like that if my mother was never home. We don't really get along."
Lavander sighed.
"Oh, don't worry, I don't get along with mine either."
The two girls smiled at each other.
"Need help unpacking? Looks like those suitcases are quite full," she said, watching the luggage on the bed.
"Yes, thank you. And the other beds, whom does they belong to?"
"Oh, the one over there is Pansy's," answered Lavander, pointing to the bed on the other side of the room. "That girl is a complete nightmare, trust me. I had to share the dorm alone with her for some time and let me tell you, it wasn't funny at all. I think she was born only to make my life miserable. She does it on purpose, really. It's like she's some kind of parasite," she continued, unpacking one of Hermione's suitcases.
"Is she really that horrible?" laughed Hermione.
"Oh yes, she is. I've known her since forever. We're neighbours. On top of that, her father works with my dad and those two... they're rivals, really. She thinks she's better than everyone. Better than me, mostly. I'm so glad you're here. Now I won't be alone with the witch..."
"The witch?" Hermione repeated, laughing hard.
"The witch, that's how everyone calls Pansy behind her back. And there's the troll too, well that's Millicient. She's Pansy's sidekick. Well, whatever, the other bed belongs to Luna. She's okay, though. A bit weird, but very smart. She skipped a grade. However, I think you'll like her."
"That's good," said Hermione, smiling.
She opened the third suitcase and took out a small mirror that she carefully put on her drawer. She looked at her reflection briefly. Her features were soft and delicate, her long brown hair fell in elegant curls on her shoulders and her pale chocolate brown eyes seemed almost gold with the light coming through the window.
Lavander got a black leather binder out of a suitcase
"Is that for school?" she asked, opening it to look inside.
Hermione gasped and jerked her hand to grab the book, but it was too late.
"Ne regarde pas!"
--Don't look!--
"Woah!"
Hermione sighed. Now that Lavander had seen it all, it was no use hiding it.
"Tell me you didn't make those!" said Lavander, admiring.
"Well, in fact, I did," replied Hermione, blushing lightly. "It's a hobby, I guess. Usually, I don't show them to anybody, but now that you saw... It's just what's in my head. It's nothing, really."
Lavander stared at her.
"You're kidding me! They're amazing. You're very talented."
The binder had many many pages covered all with different sketches. There were very realistic portraits of people, of places. Lavander stopped on the sketch of a man.
"It was my father," said Hermione.
"Was?" repeated Lavander.
"He died a few months ago."
"I'm very sorry."
"It's okay."
There was a moment of silence broken by the door opening suddenly.
"Oh. New girl's here."
The newcomer had spoken with a snobbish voice. Hermione turned around and found herself face to face with a dark-haired girl. She had steel-grey eyes and was only a bit taller than Hermione.
"Hello, Pansy," said Lavander, closing the binder and putting it back into the suitcase.
"I'm Parkinson, Pansy Parkinson, thirth with that name," she said, completely ignoring Lavander.
"Granger, Hermione Granger. I'm the only one with that name..."
Pansy raised an eyebrow and stared briefly at Lavander who was trying hard not to laugh, then turned back to Hermione.
"I guess I'll leave you two to... whatever you were doing then," she said sharply before leaving the room.
Lavander burst out laughing again. Hermione followed.
"Now I understand everything."
"Did you see her face?" said Lavander.
Talking and laughing, they unpacked all of Hermione's things who had decided it was time for her to put on her new uniform before dinner. It fitted her perfectly.
"Now you sit down," said Lavander, clapping her hands. "I'm gonna do your hair!"
Hermione laughed and sat down on Lavander's bed.
"Here, it's the rules. Uniform and hair very tidy. At first, it's quite annoying, but you'll get used to it. Oh, yeah, there's that other annoying thing... only girls. God, you don't know what I'd give to change that rule," she said desperately.
Hermione laughed.
"Okay, I get it you don't see boys often around here," she said.
"Boys? What's a boy?" joked Lavander. "I'm just kidding. That's true though. There's always those across the street, but well..."
"Those across the street?"
Lavander sat beside her new friend.
"Yes. St. Brutus'. There's only boys.
"I know, but isn't that a school for criminals?"
"Exactly, that's why we better just not think about it. McGonagall's very strict on that. And especially since... Well, just to say, at first, it wasn't that bad. We barely heard about them at all. It was very quiet. What happened behind those walls never got out. Until two years ago."
"What happened?"
"You must have heard about it. It was a massacre. Apparently, though no one really knows how, a student managed to bring a gun to school. And not a small gun at that. That's quite something. They've got a security system, you know, you wouldn't believe it! Well, during luch time, he entered the cafeteria and started shooting. There was six deaths I think and many many wounded. It was on the news for weeks and everything here was like... insane. There were news reporters everywhere, sneaking up to make interviews all the time, asking for testimonies. I'm surprised you never heard about it."
Hermione was only half-listening now. She'd stood up and was now watching out the window at the building across the street. A part of her wanted, more than anything, to discover what was hiding behind those walls.
"Mr Karkaroff had so much trouble keeping the school open. The education ministry really wanted to close everything. Everyone was so shaken by the events. Well, three weeks later, everything was back to normal. Mr Karkaroff's a pretty important man, I guess."
Hermione turned back to her friend, raising an eyebrow.
"Karkaroff? Who's that?"
"Igor Karkaroff. St. Brutus' headmaster. He's quite excentric, but arrogant like you wouldn't believe it. He comes here pretty often. Has tea with McGonagall. Did quite a scandal last year when he decided to replace Finnley St. Brutus' statue with his own. You gotta admit he's got guts."
"And you?" Hermione asked, carefully. "Did you see something?"
Lavander nodded.
"Yes. It was completely insane... We'd just started gym class..."
Hermione remembered visiting the gymnasium during the school visit. She'd noticed that it was very close to the entrance hall and had many large windows giving a pretty good view of St. Brutus'.
"First, we heard the alarms. It was very loud. So we stopped and watched, trying to make out what was happening. We thought maybe there was a fire somewhere in the building. We could see students running outside, panicked. Some of them were crying. Then the gardiens. Everywhere. And then the paramedics arrived. And you know what happened next..."
"C'est horrible," muttered Hermione to herself.
--It's horrible.--
"Horrible indeed." said Lavander, nodding as she took a piece of paper from Hermione's bedside table.
"It's nice that you're in sixth year too. So we have the same classes."
Hermione smiled. Then a bell rang from the hallway and Lavander stood up.
"Come on, we have to go down to dinner. I'll introduce you to some friends."
- - -
During the meal, Lavander informed Hermione that all the students were allowed to go out in the city during the weekends. They decided it was a good occasion to go shopping together.
"I'll set my alarm for 8 o'clock," said Lavander between mouthfuls. "So we'll have enough time. Oh, but before lunch, I'd like to go to the library. I need to check the archives for History class. "
"History class? That homework's only due in two weeks," said a voice behind Lavander.
They turned to see a girl about their age. She had long blond hair and big, dreamy blue eyes. She stared at them without blinking.
"Hello, Luna," said Lavander. "I know it's only due in two weeks, but I, unlike some people, don't like doing homework at the last minute. You may be the most brilliant girl I know, you're quite the procrastinator."
Luna smiled lightly.
"Does it bother you if I sit here?" she asked softly. "There's no place left anywhere and Millicient doesn't want me at her table. She keeps a seat for the witch."
"Millicient? She's the troll, isn't she?" asked Hermione smiling as she looked around.
"The tall brunnette over there, in the back," said Lavander.
Millicient was really tall and brown-haired, but she was way larger than Hermione and her hair was straight and ugly. Her snobbish face seemed out of place with her body. She wave briefly at Lavander when their eyes met and Lavander waved back then continued her meal. Hermione stared at her friend for a moment, wondering where she put all that food.
"Millicient Bulstrode," said Lavander. "She's from the same neighbourhood as Pansy and me. We were good friends before, but just stopped talking. And that's what it's like now. We still speak sometimes, but that's only because we go to the same school, I guess. Her mother was really sick and it's my father who removed her tumor. I think it's one of the only reasons she still shows a little bit of respect to my family. Well, that's the past" she finished, shrugging.
"Oh, I don't think I introduced myself," murmured Luna after a while, setting her fork down. "Hermione, I am Luna Lovegood. Normally, I'd be in fifth year, but I jumped a class. I would really like to have hair like yours. I would also like to be able to change my appearance at will, like magic powers you know. But only fairies have powers. I think I'm a bit too hopeful."
Hearing that, Hermione stared at her then looked back at Lavander who smiled and shrugged.
"Pleased to meet you," said Hermione sincerly.
"So, I was saying that I'd like to go to the library tomorrow. I heard they have..."
"You're going out tomorrow?" interrupted Luna in a shy whisper.
"Huh... yes, don't you?" asked Hermione.
"No. I don't think so. However, I would rather like to."
"Well, you can just come with us, we don't care," laughed Lavander. "You don't have to be so shy all the time. If you wanna come, just invite yourself!"
Luna smiled.
