This chapter is a cliffhanger, don't hate me.
I promise the next one will be better...
Voldemort had been getting stronger. The details of the pensive memory that Harry had shared, convinced Hermione that she was missing something. She was worried about Harry in the third task and worried about her exams and whenever she saw Draco, she worried about him too. She had caught him staring at her on more than one occasion but after that kiss they had never talked.
Just before the third task the Wesleys came to visit Harry. After the issue of Hermione's slander was sorted Mrs. Wesley was much warmer towards her, but the one she'd been waiting to talk to was Bill. While Mrs. Weasley fussed over Harry and the rest of her brood, Bill and Hermione snuck away to the library to catch up.
"I feels weird being back here after 5 years…" Bill said to her and she smiled
"I get it, Hogwarts was the first place where I truly felt at home, I'm glad I still have 3 more years before I have to say goodbye…" Hermione said…
"There's a lot more to the wizarding world than this school and our home 'mione. I feel like someone with your talents shouldn't get stuck in Britain… I heard about Krum asking you to visit over the summer, if your parents allow it, I think it would be a great opportunity for you to see how the other half lives…"
"You really think so? I promised to write to him over the summer… I can't deny I'm very curious about what more there is, but somehow I feel that a lot is going to change in the next couple of years…"
Bill smiled at her
"Speaking of change… I got your letter but I figured instead of writing back I'd just come meet you and give you all the answers… Your position of elfish rights seems to have shifted… I'm glad to see you don't see them as slaves anymore… "
"I don't… I get that they are happy… I still feel however that they should get the right to bond with whomever they like…"
"It's not that simple…"
"So I've been told" she muttered
Bill laughed "Well I'm impressed that you know that, however I feel Ron wouldn't have been capable of having this conversation with you… or even know about it.. So who was it that opened your eyes?"
"A friend… I think… more like a study partner…"
"I see…"
"Can we get back to the explanation please…"
"Right… see elf magic as you might have heard is very volatile… If they are not bound to wizards, their magic will implode, making them sick and even killing them… So an elf is bound to a family as soon as they are born to avoid that… That is why generations upon generations end up working for the same house… In fact it is believed that elves used to be beautiful majestic creatures once upon a time but it is the urgency to bond with a witch or wizard that led to generations of inbreeding, which has resulted in their present appearance… As for your question of why not allow them to bond with someone else… I'm sure they can but I'm not sure their strength of magic remains the same…"
"Okay so I understand that… but how can giving them clothes do so much damage…"
"Do you know about familial magic Hermione?"
"No, what's that?"
"Well I doubt you'll find anything about it at Hogwarts… However, I'll see if I can find something that you can read up on the same… actually… are you up for a short excursion…"
"Now?"
"Yes…"
"But the third task is in a few hours…"
"I know… I know what the task is also… and I promise you, you won't miss much…"
Hermione was torn….
"Okay… after the feast when the champions leave…"
"Done…"
—
They wished Harry luck as the Champions left for the task. Everyone else headed to the Quidditch pitch. In the excitement Hermione and Bill slipped out. Bill and Hermione were met with Professor McGonagall at the gates
"Hello Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger… " She said with a smile
"Professor… Bill was…" Hermione began to explain
"I already know Ms. Granger… I'm glad that you are using this time to expand your horizons instead of waiting pointlessly in the stands… I mean It's a maze… You can't see anything and the one to grab the trophy will vanquish the maze giving us a champion…" she said exhausted and glad that this whole competition was about to come to an end
Hermione smiled
"Well here you go…" She said handing them a medallion… "This should allow you to pass and enter the wards without trouble… I'm assuming you're apparating?" She asked Bill
"Yes professor…" he said
With that they stepped out of the wards and Hermione turned to see for the first time what muggles saw when they looked at Hogwarts. The ruins of a castle. Little did she know this vision would one day come true…
Sooooooo, I might be able to write a little tomorrow and maybe I'll post the next chapter then cause this is giving me a stomachache :P
I hope you are enjoying! Please do review!