DISCLAIMER: I don't own Potterverse. Only the plot is my own.
CHAPTER 4
It nearly two weeks before Hermione was able to join the students in the Great Hall for meals. She was still not completely healed, but both she and Dumbledore had agreed that it would be best to slowly ease her way in with the students. After all, she would have to study with them the following year and it was best to take away the sudden suspicion that was sure to give rise to.
As she neared the doors to the Great Hall, she could hear the loud chatter of students eating breakfast. She took a few deep breaths and remembered her conversation with Dumbledore.
"I would suggest, Ms. Granger, that you attend breakfast with the other students on Friday. Of course, I will not pressurize you to take all your meals with the others, but breakfast should not be too stressful, I think?"
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore."
"I was hoping you would be amenable to being sorted on Friday as well."
"Sorted again?"
"Yes, Ms. Granger. I'm sure you understand the need for it."
"Yes sir."
"I know that the sorting ceremony usually takes place during the welcoming feast, but I am sure we can explain your unusual circumstances. After all, I believe the students would be more receiving of you if you were one of them."
"I understand Professor."
"And sorting during breakfast, though unconventional, would ease you in a bit, I hope?" he said, looking at her speculatively over his half-moon spectacles.
"Yes, thank you Professor. …And about my alibi. Is it not common knowledge that Hector Dagworth-Granger did not have any heirs? I have been thinking about it a lot; would it not be strange if a witch suddenly pops in, claiming to be related to a noted potioneer of the past?"
"Of course, it is bound to raise some questions. That is inevitable. But I do believe this is the best course of action. The prejudices of the pureblood society we live in will do nicely to camouflage you."
"You mean, we are going to use their backward beliefs and rules against them?"
He chuckled. "Something like that, Ms. Granger. We will spin a story that Hector Dagwoth-Granger married a muggle and the child was a squib, thereby being written off from the wizarding world for many generations."
"…Until I started school at Beauxbatons. Very well, Professor."
"Yes, our story will be to that effect. And do not worry about students at Beauxbatons giving you away, Ms. Granger. The British pureblood society is too conservative to openly associate with other wizarding families around the world – they are simply too progressive for them. But as an added precaution, I will have a chat with my good friend Madame Maxime as well."
She nodded. "Thank you, headmaster. ...But, sir, why would a Beauxbatons student suddenly transfer to Hogwarts in their sixth year?"
Dumbledore stroked his beard as he pondered that for a moment. "Well, my dear, I do believe I can help you out there. Perhaps, you would like to learn alchemy from me?" he offered, his eyes twinkling.
Hermione gasped. "Really, Professor?!"
Dumbledore chuckled. "Yes, Ms. Granger. I am sure you are a worthy student. Perhaps, I can ask my friend Nicolas to join us now and then."
"Nicolas Flamel?!" she exclaimed. She could barely contain her excitement.
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. "Are you acquainted with Nicholas?"
"Not acquainted, per se. He is the only known maker of the Philosopher's stone!"
Dumbledore's other eyebrow rose up. "Well, Ms. Granger, you sure are full of surprises, are you not?" He waved a hand and continued, "May I presume then, that you be agreeable to taking extra classes with me?"
She nodded vigorously in excitement.
He took on a more somber tone as he addressed her injuries. "Now, about your injuries, Ms. Granger, I hope you will be pleased to know that we are in a bit of luck with that. You see, the only ones who witnessed your arrival and are aware of your stay in the hospital wing are Messers Potter, Lupin, Black and Ms. Evans. I have already spoken to them, and Mr. Pettigrew, about keeping it a secret."
She was about to protest but he continued.
"Nevertheless, in case word does get out, I do believe it would be prudent to spread vague stories of an attack, as we previously discussed. Instances of such attacks are not yet a common occurrence, but not unheard of either. I do not believe anyone would question too much. Moreover, all students are currently preoccupied with their exams after all."
"Yes, Professor."
"So, we will sort of you on Friday morning at breakfast. I shall leave you to rest now my dear. Take care of yourself and get well soon."
"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore."
Hermione took another deep breath and pushed open the doors to the Great Hall. All her external injuries were hidden under a glamour charm and she tried her best not to let the internal ones show by walking extra slowly. The downside to this was that almost every single head turned towards her and the chatter died, giving way to curious whispers as she was halfway to the teacher's table.
She ignored all the stares boring holes into her and focused on putting one step after another until she finally reached the stool placed in front of the hall. It seemed as though Professor Dumbledore had already informed the teachers about her sorting since the sorting hat was sitting on the stool, waiting for her.
Professor McGonagall clinked her glass to call for attention, though she need not have, seeing as all eyes were on Hermione anyway. As the whispers started, Hermione reached the table and Professor Dumbledore stood up to address the students.
"Good morning students. Yes, yes I know you are all very curious about the unconventional presence of the sorting hat during breakfast near the end of the year. However, we have a student that needs to be sorted."
The whispers grew into loud exclamations and chatter, and the noise started getting to her. She subconsciously gripped her wand underneath her robe. As though by some magnetic pull, she snapped her head towards the Gryffindor table and met silver grey eyes reassuring her. She slowly eased her breathing and focused back on what Dumbledore was saying.
"This is Ms. Hermione Granger. She will be transferring from Beauxbatons Academy in France, to complete the last two years of her education at Hogwarts. As some of you may know, students in Beauxbatons only take their OWLs in their sixth year. Therefore, Ms. Granger has joined us early in order to take her OWLs with the current fifth year students. It is only right that she is sorted first, as per Hogwarts tradition."
He gestured to her to sit on the stool. She did not notice Professor McGonagall come up and place the hat on her head, and was rightly startled when the hat spoke.
"Hmmm… A second sorting… That sure is a first." The hat chuckled.
"You know where I belong."
"I see what you have been through Ms. Granger. I see the one you seek is here. I see why you have come."
"Just sort me already."
"But are you really supposed to be here…? Are you supposed to be… alive?"
She gasped.
"What are you saying?!"
The hat remained silent.
"Just spit it out you stupid hat!"
"You would do well to heed his words. There is a price to be paid for everything. Remember that Ms. Granger."
"What do you mean? What are you talking about?"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
She waited for a reply that never came. Professor McGonagall took the hat off her head and she barely noticed the applause as she got up on shaky legs and willed herself to head in the direction of the Gryffindor table. She desperately sought out Sirius to calm herself down and found him already looking at her. He nodded reassuringly and shifted slightly to the right, making space between Remus and himself.
She didn't look at anyone else or respond to anything else as she single-mindedly went to the seat next to him and squeezed herself in. As she felt the heat radiating off of his body, she instantly calmed down a bit and leaned into him. He grasped her trembling hand under the table and rubbed soothing circles on it with his thumb.
A loud scoff made her look up.
"This is just great!" James said darkly.
Hermione was taken aback by the venom coming from someone who looked so much like Harry. "Excuse me?" she asked in a meek voice and cleared her throat. "I don't believe we have met." She said a bit more loudly.
"Of course we have not met! You were only too busy cursing my friend!" he snapped.
"James!" Sirius snarled.
"What…?" Hermione asked in confusion.
"James, we have been over this. Dumbledore explained that it didn't harm him." Remus argued.
"Yes! But he also didn't tell us exactly what it was! I know what I saw, alright?!"
Sirius continued glaring, Remus sighed and she and Peter looked between all of them, not knowing what to say. Remus shook his head and turned to her with a friendly smile.
"Hi, I'm Remus Lupin." He said, extending his hand.
She shook his hand with a small smile. "I'm Hermione Granger."
"Don't mind Prongs, he's being an idiot."
She shook her head. "No, it's okay."
"His name is James Potter by the way."
"Don't forget the Fleamont, Moony. James Fleamont Potter." Peter grinned.
James turned his dark glare on to him but he ignored it and smiled at Hermione instead. "Peter Pettigrew. Nice to meet you." He waved.
"Pleasure." She smiled.
"And you know Sirius…?" Remus questioned.
She turned to look at Sirius, who, as if sensing her eyes on him, looked at her and his gaze softened.
"Yes." She said softly.
Sirius smiled at her and squeezed her hand that he still held. He placed a plate of poached eggs and buttered toast in front of her, along with weak milk tea, just the way she liked them.
"Eat." He commanded gently.
She smiled her first real smile all morning and focused on her food. So involved were they in each other, that they failed to noticed the eyebrows raising all around them.
"So… Hermione, are you related to Hector Dagworth-Granger by any chance? The potioneer?" Remus asked, once James' grumbles quieted down and they all started eating.
Hermione nodded, swallowing her toast. "Mm-hmm. He was my great-great-great-grandfather, I believe."
"Hector Dagworth-Granger did not have any heirs." James commented suspiciously.
"According to British society!" Hermione retorted. "He married a muggle and his child was a squib, so the British pureblood society failed to acknowledge them. What they forgot was that squibs are still magical, even if the magic lies dormant. They moved to France then where people are more open-minded. I think I'm the first witch in a while though, because the family has been marrying muggles the last few generations."
"You barely have a French accent." James observed, narrowing his eyes.
She merely raised an eyebrow and shrugged. "Mum's English and Dad lived in Britain for a few years, which was when he met her. So we speak English at home."
"Why did you come to Hogwarts then, if your family lives in France?" Peter asked.
"Well, Hogwarts offers Alchemy as a special subject in sixth and seventh years. I simply could not pass up on the opportunity to learn from Albus Dumbledore!"
Sirius looked at her in surprise. "You are going to learn Alchemy from Dumbledore?" he asked, incredulously.
She grinned. "Yes. Once I clear my OWLs with satisfactory grades!" She sobered up on the mention of exams.
Sirius snorted. "I am sure you are going to get straight Os."
"You don't know that!" Hermione fretted, biting her lip in worry.
"Yes, Sirius, you don't know that." Remus echoed, looking at him curiously. "No offense Hermione, I'm sure you are a very good student."
Sirius looked slightly startled before schooling his expression into a lazy grin. "Come on, Moony. It's simple deduction! I can't believe you didn't come to the same conclusion."
"What do you mean?" James asked, frowning.
"Hogwarts does not offer Alchemy to all students. It is extremely selective and only given as an option to exceptional students after the OWL results are out. So if Dumbledore has agreed to teach her and allowed her to transfer schools even before her OWLs, then I do think she must have something to warrant that."
He gazed at her then with an unreadable expression bordering on admiration and pride.
"In any case love, tomorrow is the last Hogsmede weekend of the year. What do you say to heading into the village? I can show you around and you can buy books and whatever else you need. I'm sure you haven't had time to look around as of yet."
Hermione was about to reply when a gasp to her right cut her off. A girl with blond curls and dark eyes glared at her with hurt and anger.
"Have you forgotten that you were supposed to take Marlene to Hogsmede tomorrow Padfoot? For her birthday? For your girlfriend's birthday?" James said venomously. Though his words were directed at Sirius, his anger was directed at Hermione.
Hermione flinched at the hatred lacing his voice and pulled her hand out of Sirius'. Marlene McKinnon. What…? Of course Sirius is dating somebody! It's Sirius! This is his time. You don't belong here. What were you thinking Hermione?!
"Hermione…?" Sirius tried holding her hand again but she pulled away.
"I – no. It's completely fine! I have things to do tomorrow anyway! You should go with your… you should go on your date Sirius. It was very kind of you to offer though, thank you." She gave a weak smile, and focused on her meal. But somehow, she had lost her appetite.
After forcing herself to chew for another awkward five minutes, she gulped down her tea and excused herself from the table.
"Hermione! Hermione!"
She walked ahead faster, ignoring Sirius' voice calling her.
"Hermione! Stop!" He shouted.
She broke into a sprint and stepped into the nearest corridor. She thought she had lost him when she felt her arm being yanked back and she was pulled into a broom closet. The door was slammed shut and Sirius turned to face her, glaring angrily.
"What did you run away for?!" he demanded.
She sighed. "Sirius… Things are not how they were. You are dating somebody. Nobody here knows how we know you; that you're not completely you. I should not have acted so familiarly during breakfast. I was panicking and didn't realize what I was doing." She rubbed her head in frustration.
Sirius grasped her shoulders and pushed her against the wall. "Marlene and I… we're not… I'm not… Hermione, I don't love Marlene." He looked at her beseechingly, willing her to understand.
Her brows creased and she looked at him with a troubled expression. "But you might. I shouldn't even be here Sirius." She whispered.
"But you are!" He pressed his forehead against hers. "You are here Hermione. And even if you were not, Marlene and I would not have lasted."
She cupped his cheek and gently pushed him away. "Sirius, this is your second chance at life. You need to grasp it and live it how you always wanted. Remember what we discussed?"
"What?" he frowned.
"You can't let anyone know how we know each other. That means living your life the way you would have had I not been here."
She pulled away from him and backed towards the door as tears clouded her eyes.
"That means, you and I do not know each other. That means, you going to Hogsmede with Marlene, your girlfriend." She finished in a pained voice, as her back bumped against the door.
"Hermione – "
He reached his hand towards her, but she shook her head and ran away.
In her hurry to get away, she did not notice where she was going and ran smack dab into someone.
"Oof!"
"Watch where you are going!"
"Sorry." She mumbled, looking up and almost tripping over herself in surprise as the narrow, sallow face of a younger version of her Potions Professor stared back at her.
"I'm sorry." She repeated herself and extended her hand. "I am new here. My name is Hermione Granger."
Snape looked at her outstretched hand skeptically but briefly shook it nonetheless. "Severus Snape. You may call me Severus."
She smiled warmly. "It's very nice to meet you Severus!"
He merely raised an eyebrow and replied in monotone, "Pleasure."
"I will see you around then?" she prompted.
He looked at her curiously and then gave her a curt nod. As she watched him walk away, she suddenly remembered the vial of memories that Harry had given her before going into the forest. Seeing as her beaded bag was already on her person – she rarely left it anywhere these days – she directly made her way to the seventh floor corridor, to the room of requirement.
"I need a room with a pensieve."
"I need a room with a pensieve."
"I need a room with a pensieve."
The third time she walked across the hall in front of the wall opposite the tapestry of Barnabus the Barmy teaching trolls how to dance, a door appeared. It was quite a nondescript door but once she opened it, she found a room which was completely bare, save for the pensieve shimmering in the middle. She poured the memories in and took a deep breath before plunging into the darkness that was Snape's memories. When she came out, she was in tears.
There was one more life that she simply had to save.
A/N: TWO updates at once?! What is the world coming to?! :O
Lol, sorry. Personal updates - the continental move happened (for studies actually, and I'm just starting my thesis. Wish me luck!), I'm doing much better in terms of mental health despite occasional down days, ...and I haven't written anything in ages. Some kind of dreadful writer's block I'm trying to overcome.
I haven't given up on this story, just trying to beat my writer's block unfortunately. And some of the plot outline I've written back then sounds a bit vague to me now so I might have to do some story-building again before plunging into this completely again. :P But I was digging through some old stuff and found a few chapters already written from way back then, that just needed a bit of tweaking. So here you go! :') It's the middle of the night now when I'm posting, so I might come back during the week to correct some grammar, but hope you enjoy! Please R&R! ^_^