Chapter 1: A Scrunchie and Something Flowery
September 1, 1991
(The present)
Seeing Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry again for the first time in a long while almost brought Hermione Granger on the verge of tears.
The magnificent castle stood strong in Scottish Highlands, illuminated by the moonlight. Undamaged. Magical. Undisturbed. Free from threatening wand spells. Silent; no screams of pain. Its reflection on the lake was picturesque.
Seeing the castle gave her the same feeling when she said goodbye to her Muggle (non-magical) parents again on Platform 9 ¾ at King's Cross Station in London. She knew they were going to wait for her first letter tomorrow. They were going to be the same – supportive, loving, understanding. They would still do their best to be the best parents by being there for her even if they couldn't fully understand her world, the magical world. Hermione felt like she could do anything, as long as they were with her. Her parents and him .
She refrained from looking around for a certain platinum blond-haired boy. Instead, she focused on the scenes in front of her – the gorgeous castle, and the amazing look Neville Longbottom had. She mentally shook her head. Despite being alone on the train ride and not helping Neville to look for his toad, she still ended up on the same boat as him. Perhaps, she wasn't really trying to avoid him. After all, in her other life, Neville had always been good to her. He never accused her of anything. He always believed in her judgment.
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July 30, 2000
(Hermione's past)
Hermione entered The Leaky Cauldron and saw familiar faces – Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Ernie Macmillan, Seamus Finnegan, Dean Thomas, the Patil twins, Luna Lovegood, Dennis Creevey, and of course, the birthday boy.
Hannah spotted her and tapped Neville and gestured in her direction. Neville beamed and approached her, giving her a quick hug. "Happy birthday, Neville!"
"Glad you made it!" He looked behind her.
"It's only me," she replied casually.
Neville gave her a questioning look.
She patted his arm and gave him a reassuring smile. "Don't overthink. He's in Italy for work, and he knows I'm here. He's fine with it. He even told me to have fun with you, guys."
Neville smiled and placed an arm around her shoulders in a brotherly manner. "Good. Now, let's get you drunk," he said jovially and turned to the group. "Oi, you lot! Pay attention! The brightest witch of her age is here!"
"Hermione!" Luna Lovegood was making her way towards her, a can of Butterbeer in one hand. She laughed at the sight. Luna never drank anything alcoholic.
"Luna! You're back! How was Arizona?" she asked excitedly as they hugged each other.
Luna pulled away and her eyes were glowing. "Oh, it was wonderful, and you wouldn't believe who I met! It's the only grandson of Newt Scamander, Rolf Scamander."
Hermione's eyes widened and she grinned. " The Rolf Scamander, the great Magizoologist?"
"Oh, yes, Hermione! The one and only," her friend said in a dreamy voice. "And he asked me out!"
Hermione's mouth formed a small 'o' and pulled Luna for another hug, giggling uncharacteristically. Luna started telling her about her adventures in Arizona. As someone working for DRCMC, she became more familiar with the magical creatures Luna talked about before. She would often write to her, and they would talk about them. Her job at the Ministry and Luna's interest in magical creatures brought them closer than ever.
"Hey, hey, you two," came Parvati's voice, approaching them. "What're you guys talking about?"
"Oh, I was just telling Hermione about Rolf," Luna replied. "Oh, there's Padma! I'll be back!"
Luna left the two of them at the bar.
Parvati moved closer and they exchanged small smiles. "It's good to see you, Hermione."
Hermione hugged her roommate of six years. "It's good to see you again, Parvati."
It was an emotional exchange of hugs, and they both patted each other's backs, silently conveying to each other that they both missed Lavender. If only Hermione had known in her sixth year that it was her last year at Hogwarts, her last year sharing a room with Parvati and Lavender, she would have made the most of it.
Later on, she was pulled into a conversation by other girls like Susan, Hannah, and Padma. Seamus and Dean pulled her to their table and pushed a bottle of Firewhisky towards her. It felt like D.A.'s annual reunion all over again, minus Harry, Ginny, and Ron.
But she didn't care anymore.
If they didn't care about her happiness, then she wouldn't care anymore.
After all, the war was over. They don't need me anymore, she thought sadly.
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September 1, 1991
(The present)
Hermione had pulled away from her thoughts when Professor McGonagall appeared before them and explained about the four houses. She just stood behind all of them, alone, keeping her distance from the others. She could see familiar heads ahead of her, but she looked away, not feeling ready to see their faces. She didn't really want to mingle with everyone just yet, and she didn't want to draw attention.
When she woke up in her young body and realized that she had the chance to make things better, she decided she would not be the same Hermione Granger.
"How do you think we'll be Sorted?" came the unmistakable voice of Harry Potter.
Hermione leaned on the wall behind her and crossed her arms over her chest, looking down. She didn't want to see them .
"I dunno. Fred and George said it might hurt," came Ronald Weasley's voice.
She heard sniggers and snorts, followed by low voices, insulting Ronald Weasley. They sounded very familiar to Hermione. She closed her eyes, fighting the urge to look at the owners of the voices.
When Professor McGonagall came back and asked them to form two single lines, she stayed behind. The beautiful ceiling of the Great Hall made her smile and gave her a feeling of nostalgia. The pristine banners of the four houses and intact walls brought a lot of memories.
"When I call your name, come forward and out on the Hat," Professor McGonagall instructed.
This time, she could no longer look away. People would wonder why a first-year girl was looking down instead of looking around and being amazed by their surroundings. So, she looked up at the staff table.
There, she saw them: Hagrid and Professor Kettleburn, exchanging friendly words, probably talking about magical beasts; Professor Aurora Sinistra – looking young and relaxed, trying to get the attention of another beautiful and smart professor and Hermione's favourite: Septima Vector. Sitting beside the beautiful and smart Arithmancy expert was Professor Bathsheda Babbling – the person who helped her in the past in translating the book bequeathed to her, 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard'. There was also Professor Flitwick. The last time Hermione really saw the tiny wizard, he was duelling Dolohov and Rodulphus Lestrange. He had retired after the Final Battle, so it was really nice to see him again. Beside him was Professor Sprout, still kind and motherly looking, applauding when someone was Sorted to Hufflepuff. Next to her was Professor Charity Burbage. The last time Hermione saw her was in June 1997, during the funeral at Hogwarts. Months later, she read about her, missing. A year later, it was revealed that she was captured by Death Eaters and was fed to Nagini. Hermione still could not think about it without goosebumps.
"Crabbe, Vincent."
"Slytherin!"
Hermione turned to the professor with jet-black hair and obsidian eyes. To her surprise, he was eyeing her with interest. The memory of what happened at the Shrieking Shack came to her mind. His wounded neck, bloodied robes, shallow breathing, and eyes closed slowly. She shook her head and found the man narrowing his eyes at her. That alerted her to put up her shields quickly, like blinders being shut in just one snap. She didn't dare to look at the headmaster. She just stood there, arms crossed over her chest, not even clapping like the others.
"Granger, Hermione."
She dropped her hands to her sides and silently stepped forward. She sat on the stool and put the Hat on her head. And when she was already facing the sea of students, the first person she saw was him.
Heart-shaped face, sleek platinum blond hair, a Patrician nose, and beautiful grey eyes. He was wearing handsome robes and shiny black shoes.
Draco Malfoy.
And he was looking at her.
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Draco Malfoy was half-listening to what his childhood friends, Daphne Greengrass and Theodore Nott, were saying about Hogwarts Castle. Daphne was mumbling about the castle being sentient, moving staircases, and moaning ghosts when Draco smelt something flowery. He looked to his left side and saw a girl walking towards the stool, her back on him. He could not remember seeing the girl, on the train. She had waist-length curly brown hair, held together by a silver scrunchie with three green small stones.
Well, that looks Slytherin, he mused. Is she the one I smelt?
The scent was like one of his mother's collections of shampoos and bath soap he liked to smell. After all, his mother didn't really use them: jasmine with cherry blossoms.
She smells like home, he thought.
And when the girl sat on the stool and faced them, Draco saw she had a diamond-shaped face, light skin, bright brown eyes, and a button-like nose. Draco noticed, she was whispering to the hat, her hands on her lap, clutching her crisp robes and eventually making them crease. She seemed to argue with the Hat because she shook her head many times with furrowed eyebrows.
"Hey," he turned to his friends. "Do you remember the name of that girl?" he asked, knowing that Theo was paying attention to every name McGonagall was calling.
"Granger," replied Daphne promptly without looking at him. "I'm probably next."
Granger? Could she be related to the Dagworth-Grangers, the family of great Potioneers? He wondered.
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"Stop arguing with me," Hermione whispered to the Hat. "I shouldn't be in Gryffindor."
"Ravenclaw, then?" the Hat whispered to her ear.
"If that's going to give me a peaceful life," she sighed. I just want to be a normal student, she thought. At least before Voldemort comes.
"Better be… HUFFLEPUFF!"
.
A Hufflepuff? Draco suddenly felt disappointed. Why did she take fourteen minutes there, arguing with the Sorting Hat if, in the end, it's going to put her in the weakest and most unpopular House?
But she beamed and thanked the Hat before removing it off her head and dashing to the Hufflepuff table which was on the far-left side of the Hall, beside the Gryffindor table. Draco saw her being congratulated by older students with Prefect badges. She scooted beside a blond girl with pigtails.
"Greengrass, Daphne."
"Wish me luck!" Daphne whispered to her and Theo.
Draco turned to his friend and gave her a nod. His eyes scanned the staff table for his parents' friend and Potions Master, Professor Snape. A man in purple robes and turban was whispering beside him, but the Potions Master's attention was somewhere else. Draco followed where he was looking: the Hufflepuff table. Then, Draco saw Granger look at him – Draco. For a few seconds, they stared at each other's eyes, and he swore, she gave him a small smile. And then, he looked at the staff table again and saw Professor Snape looking at him curiously.
Does he know Granger?
Draco's suspicion that Granger was part of the Dagworth-Granger family grew even more. Why else would Professor Snape be interested in a first-year Hufflepuff? Potions, of course.
.
Severus Snape could not understand why he saw himself in the girl's mind when their eyes met. He saw himself slumped on the floor, leaning against a wall, older and weak. In the girl's mind, he was dying. His neck was wounded as if slashed by a knife several times. His robes were soaked with blood. In the girl's mind, she cried silently as older Severus Snape closed his eyes and breathed for the last time.
And then, suddenly, everything was black. It was as if he was in a room, and everything went black. He couldn't see a thing anymore.
Is she a Seer? he wondered. And an Occlumens? It's a very rare gift.
.
"Welcome to Hufflepuff! I'm Henley Abbott, a fifth-year prefect," an older student with straight blond hair greeted her. She looked a bit like Hannah Abbott.
She took the offered hand. "Thank you. Hermione Granger." Then, she sat beside Hannah Abbott who also introduced herself to her. Across from them was Susan Bones who also gave her a friendly look. Beside Susan was another girl, Leanne Fawcett and to her other side, Justin Finch-Fletchley.
Throughout the Welcoming Feast, Hermione didn't dare to look up to the staff table anymore. She focused on her new housemates. Everyone seemed to be nice and polite. After the feast, Henley Abbott led the first-year girls to the Hufflepuff House.
"Our House is located in the basement near the kitchens," said Henley as they were walking down the stairs from the ground floor to the basement. "I'll tell you a secret: you'll never get hungry – just go to the kitchens and say the words nicely. Food will appear."
Once in the basement, they turned right down the corridor and found a pile of large barrels. "These barrels," Henley pointed to the two at the bottom, "and this one," she pointed at the middle of the second row, "will open if tapped like this." She demonstrated, and the barrels opened, revealing an entrance hole that was quite big; enough for three tall people to enter.
The entrance to the Hufflepuff common room was so unique, in Hermione's opinion. Of course, she had read about the entrance to different houses. Hogwarts: A History was still her favourite book. But it wasn't mentioned where inside the castle you could find the different houses.
"The theme was Helga Hufflepuff," said the male prefect, Thaddeus Smith. "Come on, you lot, the other prefects are waiting. We'll introduce you to them."
Hermione found the Hufflepuff common room really cosy. It was decorated in bee-like colours: yellow and black. She thought it was befitting because most Hufflepuffs were hardworking. This meant they worked as busy as bees. There were several honey-coloured wooden tables with vases of sunflowers, which she found lovely. She had never appreciated sunflowers until now. She was into roses because of her mother and grandmother. But now, she felt a liking towards sunflowers. The windows were round as well, and she could see a lot of indoor plants (sunflowers, included) in between wooden circular shelves. She felt excited to browse the books. There were also a few portraits above the mantle: portraits of Helga Hufflepuff, holding a two-handled golden cup; and Newton Scamander. Only Helga's was moving, partially raising her cup, as if asking them to drink from it. Her heart clenched, knowing where the cup was right now.
That night, once she was settled in her bed in the Hufflepuff dormitory she was sharing with Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, Leanne Fawcett, and Megan Jones, Hermione's thoughts drifted back to Draco. He was looking at her intently earlier during her Sorting and before he got Sorted, and she fought the urge to beam or wave at him. She fought the urge to run to him and hug him. But she felt like she was going to melt to the ground when she saw his beautiful grey eyes looking at her without hatred, without disgust. He was almost looking at her like the way Draco looked at her before.
She had an idea why. Maybe because of her scent, or maybe because of her scrunchie. She toyed with her scrunchie that was wrapped around her wrist. She saw the item a month ago while shopping with her mother. When she saw its colours, she immediately thought of him. She bought it, along with the shampoo with their favourite scents.
That night, Hermione saw him again in her dream. But it was not really just a dream. It was a memory.
Hermione kept on looking everywhere for the black rubber that she used to tie her hair while on the bed. It was on her bedside table last night before she fell asleep.
"What in Merlin's name are you looking for and why aren't you using your wand to summon it?" Draco probed beside her on the bed. He was leaning on the headboard, half-naked and with a book on his lap.
"I try to not use magic at my parents' house, especially not after I restored their memories…" she explained, getting annoyed because of her long curly hair. She always felt like her hair was everywhere!
"Well, you're not in your parents' house, are you? And they aren't around…" he replied, looking under the bed.
Hermione sighed, remembering she was not at her parents' house on a Sunday. She wasn't in her flat, either. She had to be used to the fact that this was going to have a new Sunday routine with Draco.
"And I'm looking for my scrunchie."
"Ah, this one!"
Hermione turned around so quickly that she could have had whiplash. She saw Draco holding her scrunchie in his hand. She crawled back to his side and snatched it from him. "Why in the devil's name did you steal this from me?!" She tied her hair in a loose bun using the black rubber.
"It smells good, like your hair," he reasoned.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I was lying beside you; you could smell my hair."
Draco placed the book on his bedside table and pulled the black rubber back from her hair.
"Hey!"
"Relax, I'm just planning to do something with this," he explained and reached for his wand. He muttered a spell and the black rubber turned into a silk and silver scrunchie with green stones all around it. He gave it back to her. "I think that's better."
Hermione smiled. "Trying to make me become a Slytherin?"
Draco pulled her to him and kissed her forehead. "It suits you, my favourite Muggle-born."