Chapter 3: Revealed
"Well, Miss Granger, as you know we think that there is no way to investigate what happened to you without contacting someone from the Department of Mysteries. Of course there are people that we find trustworthy within the Department, but neither one of them work on temporal magic specifically," Albus said. It was clear that the girl was trying to control her face, just as it was clear that was disheartened by what she was hearing. "You must realize what that means, of course. It will take some time to find someone we can trust enough to let them know of your existence and history. I've already sent word to Reuben Scamander, asking for a meeting. He will know who to turn to."
Hermione's heart sank in her chest. She had never believed that there would be a quick solution to this, but that Dumbledore did not even know who to ask yet meant that it would take longer than expected.
"Until then, it is safest for you to remain at Hogwarts. Of course you will need to attend classes and live in the dormitories to blend in as well as possible." She noticed how Albus smiled warmly as Miss Granger nodded in agreement. "Please never hesitate to contact me or Professor McGonagall, your Head of House. None of us know the potential consequences of your accident. So please, if you observe anything out of the ordinary, anything about yourself changing, do reach out to us."
She had expected this, of course, and she agreed: Hogwarts was the safest place for her to be at the moment. Something about it made her nervous, of course, though she could not quite put her finger on it. "How will we explain my appearance here to the – well, everyone else?"
Dumbledore smiled. "I have given this some consideration, of course. We thought we might present you as the orphaned daughter of the retired British attaché to the MACUSA. When your parents were killed in an accident, you decided to return to stay with your Muggle relatives in England and finish your education here."
Minerva could see the wheels turning in the girl's head. "I'm not sure if you're aware, Miss Granger," she chimed in, "but the previous British attaché to the MACUSA lost his post after his derogatory comments on the Squib Rights' March almost ten years ago. Thus, he and his wife have lived far out of the public eye in the US until their death three months ago. It was barely mentioned in the Prophet. We do not expect your classmates to question your story, and the questions from your teachers are something we will be dealing with." For a moment, she wanted to reach out and squeeze the girl's hand but stopped herself from doing so.
"And my last name?" Hermione noticed she'd been biting her lower lip and immediately stopped. "Oh, I know. I went back to my mother's maiden name because I disagree with my father's comments. And because it is a Muggle name, people won't know it." It was almost silly how the smile exchanged by Dumbledore and McGonagall made her feel happy.
She took another sip of her tea, willing her hands to be steady as she put the cup down. This would be hard, she knew, but she had also been determined to ask ever since she woke up. Looking into Professor Dumbledore's eyes, she took a deep breath. "I know about the Order of the Phoenix, Professor. And I would like to join. For… for as long as I'm here. I want to help."
For a second, he was surprised that she knew of the Order at all. It was still so early in its' development, no more than half a dozen people knew of it. What would become of it if this sixteen year old girl knew? What kind of history would they make? Then again, she said she had been duelling Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries. The future might be darker than he could imagine at this point in time.
"Miss Granger, the Order is no trifling matter. Dark and dangerous times are on the horizons, and we must prepare for them. Members of the Order will be in grave danger, and you are still a student, almost a child." The girl was frowning and clearly preparing to answer, but Albus said quickly and calmly: "I cannot condone you putting yourself in danger."
She had been prepared for this answer, of course. "Professor Dumbledore, with all due respect, as long as I'm here I am already in more danger than any of your other students. If V-Voldemort finds out about me... where I really came from, he will hunt me." The weight of what she was saying only sunk in as she was doing so, she realized, and reached for the tea cup again to cover how badly her hands had started to shake. For a second, she thought of Harry and the fact that he had been living with Voldemort hunting him for a year now. "Sooner or later, the Order might have to protect me anyway. I want to be a part of that from the beginning."
Albus looked to Minerva and she wondered how he could expect her to have a helpful answer. Miss Granger's point made sense but the idea of letting this child – any child, really – join the Order outraged her. No matter what she knew about the challenges ahead of them, this girl was not equipped to deal with the Dark Magic they would have to face sooner or later. Unbidden, Robert's fate came to her mind and for the first time, she felt anger rather than a deep sadness.
"This is a terrible idea and under no circumstances can I condone it. You are a child. Far more experienced wizards have already lost their lives." She took a deep breath, hoping it would take the sharp edge out of her voice. "Miss Granger, I understand your wish to join the Order, I genuinely do. But as long as you are safe here, at Hogwarts, I see no need to put you in danger."
She looked over at Dumbledore, trying to read his expression and failing miserably at it. Hermione had always found McGonagall a bit intimidating, but for the first time her Head of House positively radiated anger. Still, it wasn't fair – she couldn't expect people to put their lives on the line for her and not be willing to do the same. "Professor, if I'd stayed in my own time, I would have turned seventeen in three months. I know I have no way of proving that to you, but it's true. Legally, I'm almost an adult. I –"
Albus held up his hand and Miss Granger immediately stopped talking. "I trust that you would not lie to us. But Minerva is right, you are still a student and lack experience with Dark Magic. Let us just return to this point of contention if it becomes necessary." He knew that neither witch was entirely content with this solution. But he also knew that if he let Miss Granger join the Order while she was still this young, it would certainly cause questions he was not willing to answer. "You said you were a fifth year in your own time. I suggest you continue your education here until you return to your own time. Of course you do not have to participate in the Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations; however, we can arrange for you to be able to take whatever classes you want to take for the next two years."
Hermione used the pause Dumbledore made to catch his breath to interrupt. ""Actually, I would like to take my OWLs. I've already studied for them, Professor, and I think I need the distraction. I mean, if there is a way to make that work with the Ministry."
Minerva could not help but smile. "There will be a way to make that work, Miss Granger." Standing up slowly, she surveyed the breakfast table in front of them. "Why don't you finish your breakfast? I'll write to Diagon Alley to acquire the rest of your school supplies. Once you're done, come to the Gryffindor tower so I can introduce you to your fellow students."
"Actually, I'm done, Professor." The girl put her half-empty plate down and stood up, as did Albus.
"Alright then. Albus, I will see you after lunch, I assume?" He agreed and she could already feel the exhaustion creep into her bones. She wondered what was going through his head as he watched Miss Granger and her leave his office.
Walking through the castle, the silence between them felt companionable. She realized she had never spent quite this much time alone with Professor McGonagall, and how little she knew about this woman she admired and respected. Of course she researched the First Wizarding War and knew what role Hogwarts and Dumbledore had played in it, but she also realized how terribly incomplete everything she had read really was. The Order had never really played a role in the official histories, or at least it had never been mentioned by name. She hadn't even known that McGonagall had been a part of it.
"Did you know I had two brothers, Miss Granger?" When the girl just shook her head, she quickly continued, "I didn't expect you to. I'm not in the habit of sharing personal stories with my students." She sighed deeply. She had not talked about this much. Still, it might help her understand.
"My younger brother, Robert, joined the Department of Magical Law Enforcement immediately after he finished school. His marks were exceptional, especially in Defence against the Dark Arts, and he passed the aptitude tests for potential Aurors quite easily. When he finished his training, he had already gained a reputation as someone to watch."
They were nearing the Gryffindor tower, she realized, and stopped. It took the girl a moment to notice she had, but when she had turned around and come back the two or three steps she had gone, Minerva continued talking. "After two years, he was assigned the role of Leading Auror in an investigative mission to Bradford. Everyone noted that few people were assigned Lead Auror positions so early on in their career, but it seemed like a fairly simple mission. They were to investigate whether or not an explosion had been caused by dark magic. Of the three people including Robert that went on the mission, only one returned, though he was gravely injured."
"I'm so, so – " she started to say, but McGonagall holding up her hand made her clam up.
"The Ministry is officially still investigating the ambush. But many within the Auror Department and some outside of it, like Professor Dumbledore and me, are quite certain that this attack was carried out by the Death Eaters and, most likely, He Who Must Not Be Named himself. Do you understand why I so adamantly rejected your request, Miss Granger?"
She was still looking for the proper words, something to comfort the older witch but then simply decided to nod. It made sense now that McGonagall had seemed so different to her than the witch she knew.
"Robert was an excellent wizard and a fully trained Auror. He fought heroically, according to his colleague that survived, but was killed within minutes." She locked eyes with Hermione, hoping she was truly understanding. "You are a child, and even if you turn seventeen soon, you are still a student. You are not at all prepared for what is out there. And as you have no relatives and are a student of my house, I feel especially responsible for you for as long as you are here. As noble as your motives are, I cannot allow you to put your life in danger."
She suddenly realized she had never really spent this much time with her Head of House, much less spent it engaging in what felt like a staring contest with her, and became uncomfortably aware of how piercing her eyes were. Hermione shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "I understand, Professor. And I'm truly sorry for your loss."
Minerva nodded quietly and started walking again at her usual brisk pace. "By now, the Castle will have prepared a place for you in the dormitory of the fifth year girls. Once your supplies arrive from Diagon Alley, the house elves will place them in your trunk. You should take today and tomorrow to consider which OWL examinations you would like to take and let me know by nightfall tomorrow. Though if you wish to take Divination, which is on Monday, I would prefer to know earlier."
She couldn't help but smile at the snort of disgust that came from Miss Granger. "I take this to mean you will not take the Divination exam. An understandable decision, if I may say so."
They had finally reached the portrait of the Fat Lady. Somehow, she immediately wanted nothing more than to draw this moment out, maybe walk another round through the castle. It felt as if stepping into the Common Room would make it real, as if trying to live her life here, even for a day, would somehow mean that she was claiming this as hers. She thought about asking another question, buying herself some time, but before she could do it, Professor McGonagall said the password and strode into the Common Room. Hermione could do nothing but clamber after her into the brightly lit, familiar room full of unfamiliar faces.
She was surprised to see McGonagall stride into the common room and nudged Mary, who'd been too absorbed by her Defence against the Dark Art notes, to notice. "What do you think is going on?" she whispered and then noticed the unfamiliar girl standing beside the entrance. Her brown hair was almost as curly as Mary's but that was were the similarities stopped. She was white, slender and brown-eyed, wearing a Gryffindor uniform and fidgeting, playing with her hair and then immediately stopping again, and looking around as if she was searching a familiar face. She smiled at her warmly, hoping it would make her feel a little more comfortable.
McGonagall cleared her throat and suddenly all eyes were first on her and then on Hermione. She wanted nothing more than to melt into the wall.
"Thank you for your attention, Gryffindors. I will keep this as short as possible." She looked back at Hermione, arching her eyebrow ever so slightly. Feeling as if she was plunging herself from a cliff, Hermione stepped forward and stood beside McGonnagall, who continued introducing her and the cover story they had concocted. She was only half listening, watching the faces of the students around her instead. There was a redhead sitting in a corner, curiously eyeing her, next to a curly-haired black girl that had already returned her attention to the book in front of her. She wondered which of them exactly were her soon-to-be roommates. There was a redhead sitting in a corner, curiously eyeing her, next to a curly-haired black girl that had already returned her attention to the book in front of her.
Then Professor McGonagall wished them all a pleasant day before striding through the room, the new girl – Hermione Granger, McGonagall had said her name was – in tow. "Miss Macdonald, Miss Evans," she greeted them when she reached their table. "I'm glad to find you here. As you might have gathered, Miss Granger will be sharing your dormitory. I do hope you will treat her with the decency one might expect from a Gryffindor."
Lily could not help but smile but immediately felt it fade when she caught Hermione's eyes which were wide and terrified.
She had had a gut feeling all the way from Dumbledore's tower as if she was overlooking something. Now she regretted that she had pushed the feeling away, telling herself that it was just the craziness of the situation. This felt like some sort of nightmare. If Hermione had to look into those piercing green eyes a second longer, she would burst into tears. Abruptly, she turned to Professor McGonagall and said "Could I speak to you in private, Professor McGonagall?", ashamed at how squeaky and thin her voice sounded.
"Of course, Miss Granger. Follow me, please."
"What in Merlin's name was that?" Mary whispered to her as the two walked away. "She looked at you like you cursed her or something."
She was craning her neck, hoping completely illogically that she might be able to catch a word of their conversation over the noise of the common room. Mary was right, that reaction had been so weird, as if she had done something deeply terrible to that Hermione girl despite never having met her. When she said so to Mary, her friend squeezed her hand comfortingly.
"I mean, we'll probably find out what got her robes in a twist. She's in Gryffindor now, it's not like she'll be able to avoid us, ya know?" Lily still looked stricken, so Mary rested her head against her friend's shoulder, knowing full well that her afro tickling her face would immediately distract Lily. When she gave her a playful shove and then nuzzled her head quickly against Mary's shoulder in return, she knew her distraction had worked, at least for now. "Oh, by the way, do you think we should repeat that section on werewolves? Dark creatures are such a classic topic, but I know they asked about them last year and I don't think they'd ask again."
She couldn't help but feel grateful that McGonagall had apparently immediately understood the gravity of the situation as they quickly crossed the common room, wondering if Lily Evans was still staring at her. She tried to keep herself from shaking. How could she have been so oblivious? She'd read about the first war, she wasn't stupid, she could have added two and two together or rather done some simple subtraction and realized that Lily and James Potter as well as Sirius, Remus and Pettigrew would be in Gryffindor now.
When the door to McGonagall's private room closed, she let out a heavy sigh and slumped onto one of the armchairs. "I am so sorry, Professor, but I can't stay in Gryffindor." Realising where she was, she sat up a little straighter and subtly looked around the room. It was a comfortable, but not overly large living room furnished in surprisingly dark and earthy tones living room, dominated by a row of bookshelves across the fireplace.
She sat down in the armchair across from the girl. Of course Minerva had expected something like this the second she had seen Miss Granger's face when she introduced her to Lily Evans, but she was doubtful about what could be done. "Could you elaborate as to why?" she asked to buy some time.
"I… Professor, I know some of these people. I know where there lives will lead. I…" She looked up at the ceiling and blinked twice, thrice, as if fighting tears. "I'm not sure if I'll be able to keep up my cover with them. I… Professor, I can't face these people knowing what will happen to them and just… pretend not to know." The thought of having to pretend not to know what Peter Pettigrew would do to his own friends made her almost shudder. "I can't."
Minerva sighed. Again, she had expected this and wondered how to make sure the girl knew that she genuinely understood and wanted to support her. "I understand, Miss Granger, but you have no other choice. We just told everyone that the Sorting Hat put you into Gryffindor upon your arrival. We cannot sort you again without confusing your peers and risking your secret coming out." She reached out and gave Hermione's hands a short, strong squeeze. "The school year will be over in a few weeks, everyone will be gone, and we will find a way to bring you back home over the summer break. Not letting you switch houses is the best way to protect your secret at the moment, Miss Granger."
She looked up from her hands, into McGonagall's eyes. Hermione couldn't help but wonder if McGonagall really believed that they would be able to send her back over the summer break. The "what if not" felt like it hung unspoken between them, like mist rising over the Forbidden Forest on an autumn morning.