In my third chapter of this story I apologised for the long gap between posts - I'm sure some poeple thought this must be abandoned and as a reader of FanFiction I understand the frustration.
When I started this story I was a teacher and hadn't long qualified - long days at school and long nights planning and marking took their toll on other parts of my life. Then one day I quit. This story had alreay been sat so long I had no will to come back to it, then the other day an idea for a new story somewhat inspired by RobSt's Knowldege is Power and the rewrite Proud Parents hit me. Then I read the reviews on this story and opeing up the first two sentances I had of chapter 4 the words seemed to flow and a slightly bigger chunk of the plot came to me.
While I can't promise that this will end the way I originally thought it would it will be ending and I will be there writing it until it does. I hope you enjoy.
I make no claim on anything you may recognise and make no money publishing my story here.
Chapter Four
Hermione secured chocolate from the kitchens and from there retreated to her room to peruse the literature collected from the bank. Her finances were stable and would last her a good two or three years without work if she were careful. However, the prospect of work and being out meeting people was too much for Hermione to be able to resist for long. Hermione glanced at the form for the Daily Prophet subscription. Hopefully it would be better than in her time, but considering the slow pace with which the Wizarding World moved she had her doubts.
Still information is key and someone with a discerning eye can gather it wherever they so choose – I wonder what the Quibbler is like during these times? Hermione mused while she ate some more of the chocolate – it was very good – bound to be Honeydukes finest.
I have somewhere to live, a ward scheme that might have frightened the Goblins and the bones of a plan – what next?
As her cover story had listed her previous job as Development and Research at MACUSA she could pretty much take her pick of jobs in the UK. Her joint citizenship should smooth over any other issues that a pure blood might have with hiring a foreigner.
I think I'm going to need a list – and top of that list is research.
Hermione quickly decided another trip out down the Alley was needed as high on her list was research – which would require books – new robes and brewing equipment for her new home.
The brewing equipment proved no problem, although tapping on the door and waiting for service made Hermione sigh inside. She understood the fear of the populace, people were being murdered in their beds by Voldemort and his band of morons, but out in the open in the middle of Diagon Alley? They hadn't reached that point yet, and if Hermione had her way they wouldn't get there either. The Apothecary proved more troublesome since some of the ingredients she wanted were viewed with distaste. Generally they were required for the kinds of potions most nice young witches didn't know about. Not only did Hermione know about them with some careful experimentation she had made them much more potent and easier to disguise in other liquids. She also needed other rare ingredients so that she could make Hermione Granger disappear and Jean Carr come to life.
A quick trip to Madame Malkin had saw Hermione wearing a casual navy day robe over her muggle clothes. From there she went to Flourish & Blotts. Stepping through the door Hermione felt the most calm she had since opening her eyes in 1978. Books, the printed word, knowledge surrounded her and all at once Hermione felt overwhelmed by the task she had given herself.
Stop it at once – if you don't do this then Harry will have to or some other child that gets lumbered with it since Wizards can't seem to pull their heads out their arses long enough to recognise the problem! You can do this, you have the skills, you have the training for Christs sake as far as Death Eaters are concerned you're a target anyway!
"Excuse me Miss?" Hermione shook her head upon hearing the voice behind her and half turned.
"You seem to be blocking the door…" the witch trailed off obviously noting the tears forming but Hermione smiled and apologised before moving off down the shelves of books.
Armed with a stack of books on UK Magical Law, current Arithmancy publications and some general interest books Hermione marched up to the counter.
"Excuse me where are the research books on advanced dark curses?" the slight frown of the bookseller was enough to tell Hermione what she needed to know.
"You won't find any books of that sort in this shop," the man was indignant and Hermione bit back a sigh, "you'll have to go to Knockturn for that sort of thing." He started ringing up Hermione's purchases making it clear that she would be completing her sale and then leaving the shop.
At least I'll be changing my appearance tomorrow so I don't need to worry about being refused service next time! Hermione boggled at the general stupidity of the wizarding world – as she tended to do at least once a day - how could you heal or reverse a dark curse if you didn't know how it worked. It was all about knowing the modus operandi of the enemy.
It's all about the M.O. thought Hermione again no, that couldn't possibly work…there must be things in place…then again they thought Harry cast the Dark Mark at the world cup…
The shopkeeper asking for the price of her purchase flung her from her musings, Hermione paid and smiled sweetly at them while packing up her purchases. She stepped out of Flourish & Blotts and headed straight down to Knockturn Alley shoulders back and head high. Before she disappeared round the corner she turned and waved at the shocked bookshop owner.
Hermione raised her hood and cast a clever little charm that meant no-ne would quite be able to remember exactly what she looked like after she was gone. A couple of shadier establishments had the books she needed and the rest of the trip passed without incident – sometimes it was refreshing dealing with those who had less morals that the bookseller at Flourish & Blotts, much quicker and easier to get the job done.
Returning to the Leaky Cauldron, Hermione let Anne know she would need to room one more night before her permanent accommodations were ready. Anne agreed that settling the bill in the morning would be preferable and that she would wake Hermione once breakfast was ready downstairs.
Once the door was locked and warded she sat on the bed and took several deep breaths, while she would never forget about Horcruxes and screaming parts of Voldemort's soul, she was going to need the fine details to work out how many already existed and where they might be. Carefully Hermione searched back through some of her darkest memories, her and Ron stabbing the small golden cup, Ron swinging the sword of Gryffindor, reading the note signed R.A.B and then Bellatrix cackling madly as she carved words into Hermione's flesh as she screamed and screamed….
Hermione stood up in a rush – maybe she should have waited until at her warded property where no-one would hear the nightmares, but she decided this information was too vital to the war. A war that was already being lost and a war she could stop.