"The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today."

H. Jackson Brown Jr., P.S. I Love You


Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. May 2nd, 1970.

In a whirl of purple dust, ancient magic filled the classroom to each of its corners. Two girls appeared out of thin air. They soon disappeared through the Mirror passage that would lead to the back between Zonko's Joke shop and the Owler Office. After the two mystery girls have gone, not long after, several Hogwarts professors arrived. Unfortunately, they were a tad too late. When they came into the classroom, all that was left was the ancient magic that filled the room. As the other professors began casting detective spells, Headmaster Dumbledore stood in the middle of the room with a contemplated look on his face.

"It seems that everything is fine here, Albus. If someone has been here, all they left is an overwhelmed magic aura." Professor McGonagall said, a wary expression on her face.

"Curious, very curious. All will reveal when the time is right, it seems."

Professor McGonagall seemed to put out about it but remained silent.


Derwent Manor

Hermione has to force herself from gaping because of the manor in front of her. It was not like she has seen many Pureblood houses before to compare, only Grimmauld Place and Malfoy Manor, but both were not necessarily pleasant. However, Derwent Manor was different. It is moderate on manor standard, with white brick walls, plenty of trees and bushes of flowers around. In all, it gave off a much brighter atmosphere than Malfoy's and Grimmauld.

"Welcome to Derwent Manor, Hermione!" Elisabeth announced softly.

She then strolled nearer to the white gate, and it was now that Hermione realized there is a ward just outside the gate. Elisabeth used her wand and tapped gently on the invisible wall, and not long after, a small middle-aged woman walked out of the house. The excitement in Elisabeth's eyes was as clear as day, but she reigned them in as the women got closer.

"Do we know you dears?" The woman asked wearily. She spotted the same heart-shaped face and the bright brown eyes as Elisabeth. The way she held herself reminded Hermione unpalatably of Narcissa Malfoy, but those laugh lines on her face gave away her personality. It helped Hermione calmed down. Elisabeth said 'not yet' with an amused smile and managed a surprised gasp from the woman by pulling out her Fate Turner.

"Let have this conversation inside." The woman said, gaining back her normal posture.


As they walked inside, Hermione took time to observe the surrounding area, while Elisabeth kept glancing at the woman in front of her with a smile. There was a greenhouse in the far-left corner, surrounded by several trees, a small lake not far away from it. On Hermione's right, there were several bushes of flowers, with a swing in the centre. The peaceful aura from the place brought a small smile to Hermione's face, helped to calm her down after the draining day. They soon arrived inside, and immediately, a tiny house elf popped in. She was wearing a blue pillowcase with two little bows on each side of her ears.

"Is there anything Zinky can help Mistress?" The house-elf squeaked. Hermione stared wide-eyed at the house-elf itself, contemplating its difference from Dobby and Kreacher.

"Please prepare some tea in the study room for us, Zinky." The woman said with a kind smile. Then the next thing Hermione knew, they were being led to a big oak door. She found herself unconsciously touched her wand, which did not escape Elisabeth notices, but fortunately, she didn't say anything of it.

"Come in." A masculine voice echo from inside the room. The study they were going in was full of books, with walls decorated with what must be the Derwent family tree. In the middle of the room was a mahogany desk; sitting behind it, a middle-aged man. He spotted the same hair as Elisabeth, but it was in disarray at the moment.

He was still looking down at various papers on his desk when they came in. But, at the firm 'Ahem' from the woman, he looked up with a sheepish smile. He rose and kissed the woman's cheek. The woman said: "They have used the Fate Turner." His eyes widen as he turned to look at them.

"Let's all sit down first. Zinky?" The woman said. The elf they just saw a while ago popped in with a tray full of tea. "Thank you, Zinky." The elf bowed down and popped away. "Sugar? Milk?" She asked

As they all sat in silence, stirring their tea, the man started.

"The Fate Turner has been in our family for a long time. But it has never been used, even during Grindelwald." A ponder looks on his face. "You look like a Derwent." He said, looking at Elisabeth. "How far back?"

"Twenty-eight year, grandpère Joseph." Both of their eyes widen at her words. "I am the last Derwent at the time we left. The man's name is Voldemort. I believe we will hear of him in a couple of years. Pépé, Joseph, Mémé Adelia." Again, their eyes widen at her intimate calling. "Hermione and I are the only two left in the battle. I thought it is prudent to use the Fate Turner then." Elisabeth said.

"Yes, yes." He said, seemingly shocks by the revelation. "How did it become so terrible?" He asked.

Taking the 'honour' because she was one who was in the heart of it all, Hermione took a deep breath and started her story. From the murder of the Potters, of the Boy-Who-Lived growing up being neglect and abuse. She then talked of their 'adventures' throughout the years: the Sorcerer's stone, the Chamber of Secret, and Sirius Black's innocence. She spoke of the Goblet of Fire and the return of Voldemort. She didn't know she has been crying until Elisabeth gave her a tissue and squeezed her hand to comfort her. Hermione took another breath and continued. She spoke of Cedric's death, then of the fiasco in the battle of Mysteries, to which Joseph and Adelia gasped.

"The Derwent would have helped you all!? Why are we not there to fight? How did he manage to come into the Prophecy room without us fighting back? We sure would have still been there, right?" Joseph asked, finding the idea of Voldemort interfere with the sacred Prophecy room outrageous and disgusting.

"They murdered you all in my fourth year, Pépé Joseph. I was the last Derwent, remember?" Elisabeth smiled sadly. While both of the elders Derwent looked speechless, Hermione turned to squeeze Elisabeth's hand, offering her silent comfort. It was not every day that you meet your family, who has previously been dead in the future. Then she continued with the story that was only getting worse. She talked about Sirius' death and Dumbledore's confrontation with Voldemort. She spoke of the gloomy sixth year: of Dumbledore's death and the start of the quest for Voldemort's Horcruxes ("Horcruxes?!" "Multiple of them?!" both senior Unspeakable gasped at this). Hermione smiled sadly and continued; on how the quest eventually led to the battle of Hogwarts.

She stumbled through the rest of it. The reality finally crashed down on her. It was just a couple of hours ago that everything became wrong. Her parents were long gone, her Harry and Ron were gone. They were all gone, and now she was alone. Her breath comes in gasps. She faintly recognized someone was Apprating her, and the next thing she knew, she was laying on a soft bed with a blanket over her. She knew she should protest when she recognized her drinking down a Dreamless Potion, but her mind was still thinking back to Harry's grave but hopeful face minutes before the battle blown out. Before Hermione knew it, she has drifted into a much-needed sleep.


"Poor girl! What have you two gone through?!" Adelia exclaimed when she popped back into the study.

"Hermione is one of the three who is in the heart of it all, grandmére." Elisabeth smiled gravely. "She has been fighting the war since her first year in the Wizarding World. I hope that we can make a better future for everyone by being here, especially for Hermione. She has been through a lot."

"How can we help you two?" Joseph asked.

"We hope to be De-Age back to ten and be adopted into our family as twins. I know everyone will buy it if I said I am a Derwent, but not Hermione. Besides, if we are adopted, then we will likely appear on the Book of Admittance. No one will question our legitimacy then. Also, Hermione is Muggle-born; adopting her into our family might help protect her on some levels."

"Very well-thought plan! It seems like you two have thought things out quite thoroughly. You should get some rest, Elisabeth. I will prepare the potion and the rituals." Joseph said as he went to stand up. On his way out, however, he turned around, walked back in, and hugged Elisabeth fiercely. "Welcome back to the family, Elisabeth. We are proud of you!" He whispered, and a tear escaped Elisabeth's eye. "The last question, however, Kurt's or Markus'?"

Elisabeth chuckled a bit at this. "Kurt is my father, pépé." If he was surprised, he didn't show it. He nodded and kissed her cheek. Joseph then went over to kissed Adelia's cheek and finally went outside.

"Dear, let's get you some rest, yes?" Adelia said with a smile on her face as she took Elisabeth's hands to Apparate away with a pop.


It took Hermione a moment to realize where she is, a minute for her to remember the situation and how she got here. She broke down, crying for the umpteenth time, before realizing that she got pulled for a hug from someone.

"It is going to be alright. We are going to fix it all, Hermione." It was Elisabeth; she now recognized. Elisabeth held her as she sobbed her heart out. The other girl just silently rocking them back and forth, rubbing circles on Hermione's back as comfort.

"I miss them."

"I know."

"What do I do without them, Elisabeth?" Hermione mumbled on the other girl's shoulder.

"You mourn them, and you move on. You will meet again soon, Hermione. Albeit not the same, but still. Besides, you got me. You will be a Derwent soon, and we will be family. You are not alone, Hermione."

Hermione took several deep breaths, and soon, she calmed down. "I want to keep the name Granger as my middle name. I want it to be a reminder of my past, of who I was."

"Of course you can. Also, my mémé has healed us at night. I think she has some potions for you on the nightstand." Hermione's groaned and caused Elisabeth to chuckle. "Let's get some breakfast. I heard the De-Age potion doesn't sit well with an empty stomach."

As they made their way down to the kitchen, Hermione was able to have a better look at the manor. Most of it painted in white and cream colours, with flower vases lined the hallway. A few trinkets here and there, again, reminded Hermione that most Derwent is an Unspeakable. The manor did not look like the homey Gryffindor, but it put Hermione at ease.


"It feels weird being ten again." Elisabeth mused, and Hermione silently agreed. She hated her bucktooth teeth; it was awkward, and Merlin, don't let her get starts on all the mood swings during the teenage years. Thanks, Godric! They have their wand with them, she thought, as she raised her wand to fix her teeth.

"It is time for the rituals. Elisabeth, you first, since it will be shorter." Joseph announced.

"What kind of ritual?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Blood ritual."

"What! Isn't it Dark magic?" Hermione gasped.

"Blood magic is hard to do, and it is rare. The Ministry classified it as Dark because it could use for dark intentions. But those dense people forgot that adoption rituals use blood rituals, and we will use that loophole so no one will question your legitimacy." Joseph calmly explained as he prepared a circle for the ritual.


It was fast and clean, Hermione thought back. Since Elisabeth already a Derwent, all it entailed was them cutting a line on their palms, let it face-to-face; then Joseph said the spell, and a blue glow bound them together. Hermione took longer since she was not a Derwent. After what felt like ages, they finished.

"Welcome to the family, Hermione!" Joseph said warmly.

"Thank you, Mr., and Mrs Derwent. Thank you for this!" Hermione said. She could now faintly feel the bond between the four of them.

"Nonsense, call us Joseph and Adelia at least. We are family now, after all." Adelia chided gently.

"...Joseph, Adelia, thank you!" Hermione said sincerely.

"Great, I will send an announcement to the Ministry, and we are all set." Both Hermione and Elisabeth breathe relief.


A bit later, as the two walk together to the library, Elisabeth asked:

"So, Hermione, are you ready to learn pureblood etiquette?"

"Please don't remind me!" Hermione groaned, causing a chuckle from Elisabeth.

Soon, the hall filled with laughter from the two girls.


Author Note: I have final exams next week, so my next update has to wait until Friday. Sorry! But a piece of good news, the next chapter will be lengthy, so I am very excited for you all to read it.