Somehow I have managed to hold a sixteenth birthday party and get this chapter typed to post. Go me! I hope you all enjoy the end of Year Five. As always, I own nothing, and I adore all of you for reading.
Chapter 35
When she finished eating, Hermione walked across the grounds, wandering towards the Forbidden Forest. The last year saw so many changes for her. She learned of the Grangers' lies. People she though amongst her best friends, not only turned against her, went on to betray her. Enemies became friends, and she gained a whole new family. She entered into a different part of the wizarding world. Not all of the changes had been bad, nor had they all been good.
She thought back to November, when Essence had cheated them from celebrating Theo's birthday together by distracting him from meeting Hermione until extremely late. She intended to make sure they celebrated his unbithday soon. If she managed to convince her security detail of the importance of quality time. Her explanation of unbirthdays lead to trying to explain the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, and mad tea parties. She ended up promising to lend him her copy of Alice in Wonderland.
Her family's constant need to have her chaperoned remained the last real hurtle in her mind. Sirius explained that while Hermione hired Remus to be her bodyguard for that day, he and her parents agreed he needed to be available full time. They paid for him to also see to Harry, Dudley, and Draco's safety, but right not she was the priority. Logically she understood why everyone wanted her to have someone with her at all times. By the same token, she had proven herself as capable as the boys time and again. It grated. At least Remus agreed that she could flooed to approved places without an escort. Granted, the list was small, but at least it existed.
Slowly she strolled down the path. She smiled at the twisted tree roots she and Viktor hid in when they wanted privacy. Those days felt so long ago, and definitely simpler. She needed to write to Viktor soon. The last time she managed had been just after Easter break. His quidditch schedule frequently made him as poor a pen pal as she was. Theo thought them hilarious. They filled half of their letters with apologies for not writing, and polite acceptance of the other's apologies for not writing more. Viktor often offered match tickets when his team played. She would need to discuss it with her security team, but she intended to accept tickets next time they played in France, or somewhere nearby once school let out.
She began the trek out of the woods feeling calmer and more settled. She needed the break from everything and everyone. A small movement ahead caught her attention. Just before the tree line a figure waited, slight crouched in the brush. Slowly, as silently as possible, she slipped her wand from its holster. Looking at the ground she carefully placed her feet in the clearest patches to avoid unnecessary noise. Quietly, she crept up on the figure. AS she opened her mouth to cast the first hex, the person turned, Hermione recognized Pansy Parkinson. She relaxed her stance and stepped forward into a clear patch. "Parkinson, what are you doing? I nearly hexed your hair off."
Pansy looked wide eyed at her, "Could you really do that?"
Hermione nodded, "Found it in an old book of 'feminine' spells." She crooked two fingers on each hand forming air quotes when she said feminine. "Kind of been wanting to try it. I keep hoping Broadmoor will slip up and give me a chance."
Pansy snorted, "Unlikely. She's still waiting to learn if there will be criminal charges. She's so clean right now she squeaks."
"Shame that, oh well. Back to you, what on earth are you doing?"
"Attempting to wait for you without being seen."
"Why?"
"Drake mentioned wanting to hold his birthday celebration out in the muggle world. And it isn't like I can go take a class in how to act. So, I was hoping you would teach me." Hermione's mouth dropped open. "Just a few pointers, if you would. I hate making a fool of myself." She looked away, embarrassed at admitting weakness.
"Um okay, sure. What kind of pointers?" Hermione gestured and resumed walking. Walking side by side let Pansy save some face.
"Huge differences that are instantly noticeable, like hopping on one foot to shake hands."
Biting her lip to keep in the bark of laughter, Hermione primly told her, "You will be pleased to learn that is a myth, fabricated to mess with naive third years in muggle studies." Pansy made a face. "But I understand what you mean. " The girls walked across the school grounds as Hermione explained basic muggle greetings, forms of muggle entertainment, and modes of transportation."
"I'll have to see if I have any muggle money with me."
"You've been enough of a help. I won't be alone, so someone can help. Thanks, Malfoy."
"My pleasure, Parkinson."
Lucius's agreement to a quidditch match in Europe arrived the next morning with the owl post. Though he suggested a game in Germany or Spain, any where but France really. She laughed to herself and jotted a quick reply.
Beggars can't be choosers. And I won't hide away for the rest of my life. Sorry, Daddy, but your little girl is a Gryffindor through and through. However, I will express your willingness to travel.
Love,
Hermione.
For the first time Harry and Hermione attended graduation. In years previous they had been too young to be interested, or in the hospital wing. Angelina, Cedric, and the Twins invited them both. Noticing Bill Weasley on her way to find a seat, Hermione gave him a small wave. He nodded in greeting. Both looked away before Molly could notice. The Weasley matriarch remained frosty towards Hermione and Harry after the potion incident. She suspected the older witch really resented the loss of the chance of the esteem of being Harry Potter's mother-in-law.
They joined Mr. and Mrs. Diggory at Mr. Diggory's insistence. He went on and on about Cedric's marvelous grades, and how great he was going to do at the Ministry. Hermione smiled and nodded politely, tuning the man out. Thankfully, the ceremony started promptly.
The seventh years filed into the front rows. Professor McGonagall greeted everyone. "Today we gather to celebrate the culmination of seven long years of education. Here in these hallowed halls these students have learned about magic, and about life; for not every lesson takes place in the classroom. I know I speak for the all of the staff when I say it has been our great privilege to help you on your educational journey. We look forward to watching your accomplishments in the coming years. "To begin, allow me to introduce this year's Head Girl, Madeline Symthe, from Ravenclaw," she waited for the applause to die down, "and our Head Boy, from Hufflepuff, Cedric Diggory." Each stood briefly to be recognized before returning to their seat. Hermione giggled quietly when Mr Diggory jumped to his feet for Cedric.
Professor Dumbledore rose then and addressed the crowd. "In the coming days, we will all be called to step forward and embrace our destinies. Some of you have humble destines in management or shop keeping. Others have grand destinies that will shape our world for decades to come. Know, that even as you leave us, assistance is always only a request away. We never stop learning, and in the coming days, none of you should be afraid to admit you need help." He twinkled at them.
Harry nudged Hermione. Under the cover of polite clapping he asked, "Did he really just try to use the graduation address to attempt to emotionally manipulate me into coming to heel?"
"I think so." Neither applauded as Dumbledore sat back down.
Professor Flitwick stepped forward and began calling names alphabetically, while Professor Sprout handed out diplomas. Each student received a hug or handshake with their scroll of parchment. After Marigold Zelker crossed the stage, Professor McGonagall stepped up to the lectern again. "Allow me to once more congratulate you on your accomplishments here at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The staff wishes you a fond farewell, some more enthusiastically than others." She looked in the direction of the Weasley twins, who responded by blowing her kisses. "Good luck with your future endeavors." The assembled love ones applauded one final time.
Graduates left their seats in search of friends and family. Several stopped to hug and shake hands with Hermione and Harry. Fred and George opted to pick each of them up and swing them about. Once finished they switched and repeated the process.
Hermione swatted George's arms, "Stop that, you loons." She reached into her pocket. "These are for you." She handed them three envelopes. "Congratulations on finishing. I'm sure your mother is pleased."
"Less so with our choice of occupation." Fred shrugged.
"But we have to be our own men." George agreed.
"Good luck, guys." Harry told them. He turned to talk to Cedric, who finished greeting his parents.
Hermione handed Cedric an envelope. "I was asked to deliver this to you."
Eagerly, the Hufflepuff tore it open. He read the short letter several times before dropping it and launching himself at Hermione. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." He hugged her, swaying back and forth and dancing her around in a circle.
She hugged him back, "All I did was deliver the letter."
"The best letter of my life."
Amos Diggory vibrated from the excited suspense. "What letter, son?"
"Lord Black accepted me as his personal aide. After my trip this summer, I'll be working with him at the Ministry and in the Wizengamot."
"I didn't know Black intended to become more involved." Amos sounded almost worried.
Hermione shrugged, "Recent events have made both Lord Black and my father concerned that not enough attention is being paid to what politicians are signing into law without anyone's knowledge. He feels it is his responsibility to combat any abuses of power."
Mr. Diggory sniffed disdainfully, "Your father had no problems with abuses of power before now."
"Sadly, the people around my parents, including my grandparents, manipulated them into following a mad man. They abused their grief over my disappearance to guide them down a dark path, one not easily escaped from, I fear." She smiled sweetly. "I can't imagine how they felt after losing a beloved child, can you?"
"Lord Black told me the light just went out inside of them. All Lord Malfoy had left was rage." Harry added. "I think Hermione is bringing it back."
"Thanks, Harry, I like to think I am." She turned back to Cedric. "Congrats again. Where are you going for your trip?"
"Well, I can't afford a gap year, or a grand tour, but Lachlan Cole's cousin invited us to visit in America. We're headed to Missouri. The family moved there just before Mr. Cole died. It should be fun."
"Son, are you sure you should be taking the time off for a trip right now, Lord Black is expecting you."' His father cut in.
"Not until after his trip, he isn't." Harry assured him. "We have a few trips of our own planned."
"Have a good time, and be sure to take lots of pictures." Shouts from the Weasley twins drew everyone's attention. "They read the envelopes. They know about the offers. We need to escape now." Hermione smiled tightly at the Diggorys. "Congrats, Cedric, see you soon."
"Have a good trip, Ced." Harry waved as they hurried from the Great Hall before the Weasley twins could locate them to share their excitement with the messengers.
"One more year down." Harry remarked as they returned to the dorm.
"Two more to go."
"Think we'll ever have a quiet year?"
"Not a snowball's chance in Hell."
The train trip to London passed quickly and far more quietly than usual. "Who knew Fred and George made so much noise?" joked Tracey.
"Any Gryffindor." Fay replied in a flat voice. "Human bludgers really."
"Very attractive human bludgers." Sally-Anne added.
The gossip turned to that morning's Daily Prophet headlines. The investigation into Umbridge's legislative career raised enough alarm the powers that be decided to hold her inside special isolation cells inside the Ministry. Only aurors with top clearance could gain access. After Hermione let her off the leash, Rita Skeeter wasted no time collecting interviews and quotes from former employees and assistants. Privately, she assured her former captor that she fabricated nothing. She admitted even she couldn't make anything this crazy up.
A smaller article at the bottom of page three mentioned that due to the extreme punishment over the potion incident at Hogwarts, the Ministry would not be pressing criminal charges against Essence Broadmoor for her part. She had been cautioned that any further incidents of this nature would be judged more harshly. "Are you okay with that?" asked Tracey.
Hermione shrugged, "Ultimately she failed at her real goal: to land a pureblood husband. Any guy she starts flirting with in the future is going to be super paranoid about her. Sometimes living well is the best revenge." Pansy snorted. "Hear me out, I still have the wizard she wanted to steal. I went on her self described dream date of a romantic walk through the snow with said wizard. I exposed her plans and dashed her chances of escaping without punishment. And she can't retaliate against me, I'm as much her victim as Theo was. And if she's that stupid, well, I have a few new hexes I've been dying to try out." The sweets trolley witch interrupted the conversation, and after she left no one felt the need to pick it back up.
The first day of break, Hermione sent her letter to Viktor, accepting his offer of game tickets. Though given the number of people interested in going she suggested he look into reserving them a box and she would pay for the tickets. She, then, notified Remus of her destination headed for the library at Grimmauld Place. Despite not being the residence of the head of the house, it housed the biggest library. Sirius reported that Phineas Black, who built the house, went on to be a Headmaster at Hogwarts. He clearly valued the power of knowledge. "I'll come with you. I wanted to look up some of the more complex wards in the library.
She combed the stacks looking for a mention of Herbow. She knew she read that name while researching last summer, she just couldn't remember where. Remus chuckled at her little growls of frustrations and settled into a chair by the fire with his selected books. A small gray leather bound book caught Hermione's eye, mostly because of the unique color and the lack of title on its spine. The last reader tucked the small book at the very end of the row closest to the wall on the bottom shelf, like he or she was hiding it. Hermione slipped the thin tome from its hiding place and sat on the floor to flip through it.
Despite not being what she searched for, the book caught her attention. Her eyes widened and she felt herself getting wet. The text explicitly described techniques for giving various forms of sexual pleasure. It detailed tips for being able to accommodate large wizards or how to more comfortably perform certain acts. It reminded Hermione of the copy of the Kama Sutra the Grangers purchased to seem edgy. She checked the title page for the author, Capella Black Burke. A quick scan showed the book devoid of any magical properties, dark or otherwise. Content nothing would possess her if she read the book, Hermione slipped it into her bag for later study. She owed someone an extra special birthday present. "Hermione?" Remus called.
She stood and dusted herself off. "Yes?"
"It's 5 o'clock, we should start thinking about heading back."
"I'll be right there." She stood and dusted herself off. In the open area of the library, she ran her fingers along the spines of the books. The title Magick Moste Evile caught her eye. She snagged it and scanned the book. Remus chuckled. "Look, after second year and that blasted diary, I check everything before I bring it with me. That includes brand new books from the bookstore. I prefer to not be controlled by evil spirits, thank you very much."
He held up his hands in surrender, "No judgment here. Actually, that is a very intelligent thing to do. You should encourage Harry to do the same."
"I randomly scan Harry and his stuff on a regular basis." Remus stared at her for a moment, before throwing his head back, roaring with laughter. "And I'll thank you not to tell him. He'll get all pissy about it." Remus continued laughing as he followed her from the library and into the kitchen
Kreacher sat at the table, scrubbing the silver. He stopped and stood when Hermione entered. "How can Kreacher serve mistress?"
"I left some books out in the library, would you please shelve them? Thank you."
"I live to serve, mistress." The little elf hurried off to the library.
"It took me a very long time to learn that they really do." Hermione remarked to Remus before she flooed back to Malfoy Manor.