Confession of a little witch
A trip to Diagon alley, while Voldemort was around, could hardly be called safe, yet Harry had incessantly insisted that he was not going to mail order his school supplies. Therefore Moody and Lupin had to spent an entire week planning their trip to Diagon Alley.
"Alright, as you little prats know Voldemort's return has been exposed to the world, so Death Eater are going to be much less cautious about attacking us. Hereby are the things that you will not do." Moody growled as he fixed his gaze on Harry, "You will not go wandering into Knockturn Alley. You won't leave each other's presence and more importantly, you won't do anything risky."
"I solemnly swear to be on my best behavior, satisfied?" said Harry annoyedly.
"Harry, we don't want to restrict you. All we want to accomplish is to keep you safe." Remus said dejected by Harry's lack of sensibility.
"Well, I think we're ready." said Sirius as he was checking his pockets, "Lucinda isn't coming today. She's asked me to keep an eye on you three." He pointed at the trio.
They first used a portkey to Borrow and then used the Floo network to get to the Leaky Cauldron.
Hermione had brought a little bag with herself that could apparently be stuffed with loads of things. She madly filled it with books and Harry's potion ingredients. It helped that Sirius was more than willing to buy. In fact he himself bought some expensive books too.
"I had not realised that you were a fan of the books, Sirius." Hermione told him.
"I've read everything in our library. I just don't like to read when people are around. I prefer my quiet room." he explained.
"Hi guys." said a voice behind them. They turned around to see Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Augusta Longbottom and a man with a weird blue robe.
"Harry this is my dad." Luna pointed at the man.
"Xenophilius Lovegood." He introduced himself curtly.
"Pleased to meet you, sir." Hermione said in the absence of any response from Harry and Ron.
"Daddy runs the Quibbler." Luna explained needlessly as everyone knew about that fact. Quibbler was probably the most ludicrous magazine Hermione had ever read.
Augusta Longbottom seemed unhappy about seeing Neville smiling brightly at Hermione.
"Miss Lestrange. I hope you're doing well. It seems that my assumptions were correct." she said with her head high.
"I'm doing well madam." Hermione said with an unfaltering smile, "Yes, thank you for warning me in advance. It would have been quite a shock."
"Ah I see. That was exactlythe answer I was expecting from you dear." she said vaguely without further explanation.
"I don't think it's right to discriminate people based on their relatives, Lady Augusta."
"Oh it's that so Xenophilius?" She asked intrigued by his opinion. "Then why don't we leave Luna and Neville with Hermione here?"
"That's a good idea. In fact we'd have to do that if we wanted to have a discussion with these gentlemen here." He pointed at Remus, Sirius and Moody.
"Remus, keep an eye on these troublemakers. We'll hear them out." Moody said as he dragged Sirius with him to follow the pair.
"Did they just ditch us." asked Neville.
"Tactfully." answered Harry, "So what's next, Remus?"
"Well, I guess we could visit Weasley's Wizard Wheezes." he said with a knowing smile.
Ron, who could barely hide his enthusiasm, jumped up in joy. Neville and Luna liked the idea and Harry couldn't wait to see it. Hermione didn't admit it, but she was as curious as Harry about their shop.
It was surely a successful business. The shop was packed with customers and they weren't all students as Harry had expected. There they saw Ginny helping the twins.
"Hey, Neville is here." exclaimed George as he saw Neville, "Harry and Hermione too."
"Our gracious investor has come to see the progress of the business." said Fred as they bowed to him theatrically.
Ginny smiled to them brightly. Hermione saw her gaze on Harry and couldn't stop feeling jealous.
"Nice hair, Hermione." said George, "Your face is more pronounced when you keep it short."
"Thanks George." she smiled at him. This time it was Harry's turn to feel jealous.
There were a lot of interesting things in the shop. Hermione was particularly interested in their Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder. She wondered if Fiendfyre could overcome its effects. She shivered at the thought as she realised how natural it had become to her to use such a destructive magic.
"Hermione, aren't you interested in our love potions?" said Fred as Ginny and George were handling the customers.
"Why would I be?" she answered. "I have Harry."
"I know. I just thought you might want to spice things up." he replied.
"Uhm … Thanks for caring, Fred. While I think we're just fine, I'll order a batch later in case we ever need it." she responded shyly and then she approached Remus to ask if it was time to leave. Remus agreed that it would be best to avoid staying in a place for too long.
"Their shop is the last sparkle of hope in Diagon Alley." said Neville as they left the shop, "Everything is so dull, covered by posters."
"It's really unsettling." said Harry. "I have been counting Bellatrix posters and there have been eighteen so far."
"Nineteen, Harry." Hermione corrected him. "You didn't pay attention to that one in the Leaky Cauldron."
"It must be weird." said Neville shyly to Hermione, "To see her everywhere. Like a stranger."
"Neville she is a stranger." Hermione said, "At least she is to me."
Well, that was a blatant lie, but she couldn't say otherwise, could she?
"Do you hate her?" asked Luna.
"No." said Hermione instantly. During their sessions together Hermione had decided that she didn't hate her mother, "But I don't love her either."
"I think you should love your mum before you lose her." Luna said. Hermione wanted to argue that fact but something in Luna's sad voice stopped her. Neville didn't say anything as well.
"Alright, let's get some robes." said Remus and guided them into Madam Malkin's.
Hermione opted for two sets of simple robes and left the shop immediately waiting for others to finish their purchase.
Harry soon joined her and Ron followed after.
"Luna's gonna take some time." he said, "I hope they hurry up a bit. I'm starving."
"Ron you're always starving." Hermione smiled playfully as his ears turned red.
"Is that Malfoy?" said Harry. they saw Narcissa and Draco pass by them.
Draco looked burdened and his tiredness was apparent in his pale visage. Hermione knew exactly why her cousin was so disturbed.
They tried to ignore them, but Hermione made eye contact with Draco and his emotions poured into her. She caught a glimpse of what was on his mind. Draco immediately pulled his mind barriers over his thoughts, and Hermione pulled out of his mind gently.
Draco was horrified by Hermione's Legilimency. It was the strongest he had ever felt and she hadn't tried much. He remembered a conversation he had with his aunt during their sessions.
"Drakey, I've taught you to occlude your mind, haven't I?" Bellatrix had asked playfully.
"You have, aunt Bella." he had answered.
"I've taught you so well that even Dark Lord won't be able to gaze into your mind easily, that is if he tried a shallow intrusion." she had explained, "You are good at Occlumency, Draco, and you have a good talent for Legilimency as well, but you're not natural." she had paused and faced the window.
"Don't look into your sister's eyes when you're with her." she had demanded.
"Why? Isn't she natural like the Dark Lord. Isn't he more experienced than her?" He had asked, frightened by what her answer might have been.
"They are incomparable. It's like comparing the Stinging Hex with Cruciatus Curse." She hadn't looked at him.
"Then why?" He had asked mistakenly assuming her metaphor meant that Voldemort was better.
She turned around angrily. "Are you daft? She will cut through your shield like a knife cuts butter. You're defenseless against her. I cannot stop her from shattering my shields entirely and I have many years of experience." She yelled at him.
Draco gulped. He mistakenly looked at her again, but she was restraining her Legilimency. Her face was slightly different today and her resemblance to his aunt had intensified. If it wasn't for her short her, she would have been arrested by the aurors.
"Draco?" she called him. Something in her voice made Draco shiver. It was exactly like her aunt, yet there was something horrifyingly similar in her tone that he couldn't put his finger on then.
"Hermione dear." said Narcissa Malfoy, "It's good to see you here."
"Aunt Narcissa." Hermione nodded at her.
"Mother, could you buy some robes for me? I need to buy something else." Draco asked his mother.
"Of course, dear."
Narcissa looked at Hermione with her begging eyes.
Hermione sighed and let her enter the shop without a word.
"Where is he going?" asked Ron when he saw Draco enter the Knockturn Alley.
"Let's find out." Harry pulled out his invisibility cloak.
"No way it can fit us all. I mean Hermione is so tall now." Ron whined.
"It's alright." said Hermione as she cast Disillusionment Spell on herself swiftly. It was so powerful that even she couldn't see herself.
Ron looked at where she had been a second ago in awe.
"Hermione, you truly are the brightest witch of our time." he said.
"Don't flatter me and get under the cloak, Ronald." she jabbed at him which frightened him slightly. They followed Draco to a shop Harry had the pleasure of visiting five years ago. Borgin and Burkes seemed even darker than he had seen then.
They used extendable ears to listen to the conversation. It seemed that Draco had shown something to Borgin and then threatened him with Greyback. He left in a rush and almost hit Hermione before she moved herself away to avoid collision. Ron and Harry argued what that conversation was about.
"You two stay under the cloak." Hermione instructed the boys.
She cast a permeability charm on the door and passed through it. It wobbled slightly, but Borgin who was still in shock didn't even notice that. Hermione looked around to see what was in the shop.
"The vanishing cabinet? Montague spent two weeks in it. So the other pair was here." She thought to herself. Dumbledore had ordered her to avoid disturbing Draco's plans, so she could not let Harry and Ron suspect anything.
She cancelled the charm that was hiding her from naked eyes. Borgin was shocked to see her he pressed the desk hard with his palm.
"Hello, Mr. Borgin." Hermione greeted the man. She wouldn't get such a reaction from him if she had been the old Hermione Granger.
"Miss Lestrange." Borgin smiled with relief once he realised that she wasn't her mother. "What could I possibly do for you?"
"How much for this cabinet, Mr. Borgin?" she asked amiably.
"Ah.. I'm afraid that's not for sale." He gave her a disturbed glance.
"I see." she said without insisting. She had to ask a few more questions to distract her friends.
"And how much for the necklace?" she asked casually.
"One thousand and five hundred. I'm afraid it's non negotiable." he said.
"A bit expensive for something so unreliable Mr. Borgin. I can feel it's curse. You should do better in hiding that." she said disappointedly.
"My dear, not everyone is as perceptive as you are." Borgin excused, "I could cover the traces for free if you buy it."
"I'll consider it if things don't go according to plan A." she looked at the cabinet. Borgin at once realised that she knew about Draco's plan. The boys who couldn't see her did not. That was perfect.
Borgin came forward and silently gave her a card.
"Please, don't let anyone see you leave, Miss Lestrange." he asked.
Hermione immediately recast the Disillusionment charm and left silently. She didn't look back to see a very horrified Borgin who saw her vanish completely and the glass wobble as she passed it. That day Borgin vowed to always remind himself that Hermione Lestrange was someone you wanted to appease.
They came back to Madam Malkin's AS fast as they could and arrived there right in time before Remus, Neville and Luna came out. Luna had bought quite a lot of things. Some of them didn't even make sense like a little bow tie that looked like a crocodile.
"Did you get that from here?" said Harry incredulously, "Madam Malkin doesn't sell these things, does she?"
"You would be surprised if you knew half of the things she sells is barely considered clothing." answered Remus.
Soon they were joined by Sirius, Alastor Moody, Mr. Lovegood and Madam Longbottom. When they came back home Sirius and Moody explained what had transpired between them.
"Xeno wants to cover some articles for us. He's started to work with Rita on more serious news and they're trying to write about things that Prophet forgets to mention." Sirius said. "We're agreed to cooperate and Augusta wants to help us financially. Not that we need her money but they have access to some of the best apothecaries, green houses and magical farms across the world. At some point we're gonna need that."
"Hey everyone, welcome back." They heard Mrs. Weasley. She came and hugged them and Hermione for the first time after her change had occurred. She was hugged like one of Molly's own children and Hermione had never felt any happier.
"We should hug Hermione more." said Sirius.
"That's true." agreed Mrs. Weasley with a hint of shame.
"Sirius." Hermione snapped at Sirius.
"What?" asked Sirius innocently.
Hermione didn't dignify his intentional ignorance with a response.
"Guys, Bill is here. Someone else is with him too." Mrs. Weasley said as she cringed a bit.
They were surprised to see Fleur Delacour in the kitchen chatting amiably with Dumbledore. She jumped up and hugged Harry, but she released him upon seeing Hermione. She didn't know her and Hermione looked like a very famous Death Eater. Bill tried to apologise for her girlfriend's behavior, but Hermione dismissed it as not important and natural. Dumbledore was smiling at Hermione brightly like she was his next favourite student after Harry.
Fleur was surprised to find out that she was Hermione Granger.
"O 'Ermione? Victor's girlfriend?! Mon Dio! You're so different." She said.
"Uhm, she's my girlfriend actually." Harry pointed out politely.
"Pardon moi, Harry." said Fleur disappointedly.
"You should say I'm sorry, honey." Bill corrected her.
Fleur was so friendly yet Mrs. Weasley seemed to dislike her. Later on when Ginny came to the headquarters. They realised that she didn't like Fleur either. Everytime Bill kissed her Ginny would gag. Hermione, on the other hand, was very kind to the poor girl. Fleur enjoyed talking with Hermione who talked to her regardless of her grammatical mistakes and unfamiliarity with customs as an equal. Hermione was a source of confidence and power and not the nerdy bookworm she assumed her to be. However, Hermione has to admit something seemed to be odd about Fleur and Bill. She just couldn't put her finger on it.
It didn't take much effort to keep Harry and Ron distracted from Draco's plan. Harry was correctly assuming that Draco had shown Borgin his Dark Mark. Hermione had not dismissed the idea yet she had tried to plant some doubt in his mind.
Harry had been so concerned about Draco that he barely noticed the fact that Tonks was so depressed. Everyone thought she was feeling guilty because of what had happened to Sirius, but Hermione doubted that to be the case since he was alive, well and cheerful. Hermione, was tempted to use Legilimency a few times but decided against it. She had to respect people's privacy. Hermione instead focused on her mental connection with Harry. She could send him messages easily even when he wasn't around they had tried to communicate when Hermione and Ginny went to check on Burrow.
Dumbledore had insisted on checking the Burrow constantly and Hermione was more than willing to participate. Dumbledore had allowed her to do it with Ginny so the youngest would feel more confident and Hermione could keep her safe at the same time.
They entered via the fireplace. Hermione checked the surroundings by various methods until she was satisfied with the security. She followed Ginny to her room to help her pack some clothes.
Ginny showed her some of her clothes and interesting hats she had collected since childhood. She put a very tall magician hat on hat on her head and smiled. Hermione suddenly realised how boyish Ginny was as she saw her like that.
"You know, I never thought you would end up with Harry." said Ginny abruptly.
"I didn't either, but it happened. I'm happy it did." Hermione smiled shyly. She had never taken Ginny's feelings into account. Surely her friendship with Dean Thomas was to make Harry jealous. Hermione had destroyed all that careful planning with one kiss.
"You can read minds. That's very cool you know." Ginny said.
"I can. Actually, I can see, hear and even smell. Thoughts are like afterimages or echoes. They're not written somewhere in your brain." Hermione explained calmly.
" Why don't you try reading mine?" Ginny asked. Her breathing accelerated as she looked into Hermione's eyes.
"I'd rather avoid it. It's your private place. I cannot prevent it sometimes, but I really rather avoid mind raping people, like I once did to you." Hermione said,
"It is not b rape when you do it to me." Ginny responded shyly and yet her tone was so inviting.
Hermione's Legilimency reacted to the provocative tone of Ginny. There was something dangerous in her words. Ginny stopped breathing for ten seconds until Hermione managed to bring her Legilimency under control. Hermione breathed heavily overwhelmed by Ginny's not so innocent thoughts.
"You didn't want Harry did you?" Hermione whispered. How foolish she had been. How come she hadn't seen that in the first place.
"I got over him in fourth year and realised that I don't even like boys the very next summer." She admitted. "I thought about telling you a few times, but I wasn't sure about my feelings. When you took over a few months ago, all my doubts faded away."
"Ginny, I'm sorry I did that to you. I - I can't ditch Harry for you." said Hermione desperately.
"I know, but we could share you, couldn't we?" Ginny almost begged, "Wizarding society acknowledges non-monogamous relationships quite well. I'm sure I can convince Harry…"
"Ginny stop please." Hermione said with a shaky voice, "You deserve better than this."
"I don't want better," Ginny disagreed stubbornly, "because I love you, Hermione."
A/N: Yes, yes, I know. Ginny and Dean were so cute together, but if things are going perfectly, the story will be quite boring. Ginny is a proud bisexual. She is a tiny but twisted as well, but she's very kind and loyal.
P.S. No, Hermione did not damage her brain when she took control.
