The Strength Of Our Roots
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters and no money as been made out of this.
Chapter 6
"Goodmorning class. Please put your books asside. Today we will..."
Hermione was no longer listenning to McGonnagal. They had been trying some new spells recently, surelly today would be no different. Ron and Harry would pair up, Seamus would almost blow Dean up, Goyle and Crabbe would hide in one of the corners of the classroom so they weren't caught cheating, and she would try to team up with Draco.
However, before that happenned, they had to listen to their teacher explaining everything all over again.
And since Hermione was tired of hearing it, her mind kept wondering back to the letter she had received.
Yesterday at night, when she was already tucked in bed, a snow white owl came in started picking on the window. At first she thought the letter was for one of the other girls, maybe a love letter for Lavander.
Clearly no one was going to get out of bed, so Hermione was left to do all the work. And thankfully so, because it would be catastrophic if Lavandar had gotten a hold of it.
The letter, as it turns out, was from her aunt.
Carefully not to be seen, Hermione took it from between the pages of her book. Unfolding it, she read the words wich brought her so much hapinness.
Dear Hermione,
I apologiese for the tardiness of my letter. As you can imagine, things have been quite stressull. Lucious tells me you should be carefull around Rita Skeeter, she has been rounding the Mannor.
Moving forwrad, I would love to meet you. Next Hogsmead trip would be a perfect opurtunity.
Meanwhile, I sent some things atached to the letter. They belong to your parents, so I thought I'd give them back to you.
See you soon, and please take care of Draco.
Narcissa Malfoy
It was short, but Hermione understood. It had taken a long time to write to her, and the Malfoys were very likelly being spyed on. Not by the Minister, but by Dumbledoor and the Order. If they found out about the letter they would try to stop her from meeting her aunt.
As they were finally starting the more pratical part of the lesson, a seventh year Hufflepuff boy nocked on the door.
"Sorry to be interrupting, Professor, but the Headmaster wants to speak to one Hermione Granger." he didn't seem fazed with the all ordeal, while others might've been.
Her blood started boilling. She was not a Granger, not anymore. It was not his fault, Dumbledoor kept insisting on calling her that.
When the Gryfindor showed no signs of moving, the other students started to get edgy. Neville moved unconfortably in his sit, Ron and Harry were glaring at her, like allways.
Draco, on the other hand was trying to stiffen a laugth.
"Miss Granger, didn't you hear that Professor Dumbledoor is waiting for you?" so McGonnagal was siding with him too? One less person to trust.
"I'm sorry Professor. I didn't realized I was being spoken too, taken in account I'm no longer a Granger." Hermione didn't even batted an eyelid, staring right at her teacher.
"I'm sure our Headmaster held no harm." Minerva being Minerva didn't let herself being intimidated.
"Of course not. I would never suggest such a thing."
With that, Hermione stood up and left. She could hear the whispers, and it pleased her how the Hufflepuff boy steped asside for her.
They walked together and in silence. As they are aproching the Gargoil leading to the office, the boy turns to her and says.
"I believe in you when you say the Dark Lord is back." he fidget on the spot, his eyes never meeting hers. "I just wanted you to know that if you need anything, the Hufflepuff House is here to help. We... respect the reason why your parents are in Azkaban."
Now that was a new development. Hufflepuffs being Death Eaters? Who would've thought? The nicest House of Hogwarts serving the Dark Lord. She had to talk to Draco and the rest of the crew.
"Uhm... Thanks. It's good to know there are still some people with whom I can count."
He smiled shyly and left.
Hermione took a deep breath and put her walls up. Going in Dumbledoor's office was never easy. Mainly because this time she had to try to change his attention back to Harry. At least she already had the fake book ready in case he asked for it.
Step by step, she climbed up the stairs. It was a lovelly day outside, and for a moment she wished things were easier. She wished she didn't know who her familly was, no matter how exciting her life had become.
She'd love to live the times when Harry and Ron were just boys, with dreams and hopes for the future. A time when they had yet to change. The laugths she shared with them, the nights on the Gryfindor Common Room. Hermione would never go back to those days and she knew it. Everyone knew it.
Her new life was with the Slytherins, and she didn't mind it. However, in her mind she kept comparing what she used to have with what she had now.
She was about to touch the handle when the voice of the Headmaster was heard.
"Come in please, Miss Granger."
For a moment she poundered. Maybe should do the same thing she did with McGonnagal. Or maybe play it as if she was quite innocent. She really had to figure out wich aproach she was going to choose.
"Hello Professor. How are you today?"
"As good as one can be at my age. Please, sit down. Would you like a lemon drop?"
"No thank you, sir." she sat herself. "Why am I here?"
"Oh, I was just wondering how everything was going. It can be quite difficult to adjust to such a different reallity." he gave her the so well known fatherly smile.
"I won't say it's easy. Principly with Professor Umbridge." just as she was execting, his attention picked at the mention of the woman.
"Oh. Well, I had know idea Professor Umbridge had been bothering you. Maybe if I spoke with the Minist-"
"Oh no, there's no need for that." Fudge wasn't paying her much attention, and that was one of her biggest reliefes. "I just feel like she's been trying to tell me something. Maybe she will invite me to join her squad"
"Oh...if that was to be true, it would be most troublesome, I imagine..." he reached for another lemon drop.
"Actually, I was thinking of joining." his hand stoped midway. "I might be able to figure out what the Ministry wants from Hogwarts."
"That is very thoughtfull of you. It's good to know that your morals are still firm." More like my loyalty. "However, I didn't wish to speak about such matters. I'm more concern about the actions the Voldemort might take when it comes to the daughter of his most loyal followers."
He leaned forward, his glasses sliding down his nose.
"If any of his followers were to contact you in any way, you must come to me imideatly. These are very dangerous people, they will take any measures they deem necessary to acomplish their goals."
"And here between us, maybe you should be ware of the Malfoys too. At least until we find out their true motives." Dumbledoor's eyes sparkled with desire and lies.
"I will, Professor. Thank you for the warning." Hermione leaned back in her chair, not bothering to play those games. It was quite tiring to do so.
"Oh, and one more thing, Miss Granger. Harry tells me about a book you have in your possessio-"
"Oh, I know what he's talking about. I was wondering when he would ask for it." Hermione stood up. "I have it with my other books. If you'd like I can give it to Professor McGonnagal."
"That would be most helpfull, yes."
When the young witch was finally able to leave, she couldn't help but wonder if she seemed to eager. Maybe her aproach on the book hadn't been the best. What if they found out it was fake?
She'd deal with it later. Now, she had to go and talk to Minerva.
Wich was a problem itself. Hermione had allways loved the teacher, and seeing her against her familly hurt. In fact, it was a betrayal worst than Harry's and Ron's.
The Gryfindor girl walked without thinking, simply enjoying the sunshine light coming through the windows. Her life would right it self, like it or not.
Before reaching the classroom door, she felt a hand on her shoulder. For a moment she was scared. Her fist instint was to pull out her wand. To atacke the strange who dared to make contact with her.
Worries be danmed, who cared about detentions. She had energy built up and needed to relise it. A good fight was all she needed. People already saw her as a threat, why not meet their expectations?
Probably because the person with a hand on her shoulder was none other than Minerva McGonnagal.
"Oh, hello professor."
"Miss Lestrange, hello. I was wondering if we could talk in private."
"Of course."
Again, they walked in silence. Worst than speaking with Dumbledoor was speaking with Professor McGonnagal. It was a terrifying thought.
The teacher openned the door of her office, allowing the student to enter first.
It was a nice, confortable place. A carpet covered the wood floor, the fireplace was on fire. There was one single window, from where she could see the snow falling. The desk was full of papers and feathers, very likelly the first ideas for the upcoming tests.
"Oh, before I forget, Professor Dumbledoor asked me to give this to you." she extended the book to the Transfiguration teacher.
"Uhm... I shall give it to him." she placed the book behind her. "Look, Hermione, you are a great witch and a fantastic student, but I'm worried about you. With all this changes I'm afraid your marks might go down."
"Don't worry professor. The advantage of not having friends is to have more time .3
to study." Hermione smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. McGonnagal cringed visibly.
"Yes, but studying is not the only thing important. Friends can help to clear a mind and to relax."
"I know. I'm just glad the Slytherins have been welcoming."
"They do care a lot about each other." Minerva rubbed a hand across her face. "I remember your mother when she was your age. She was just like you. Strong, powerfull. Didn't have many friends, but all Slytherins admired her. Even some people from other Houses."
"What she became in the future, after leaving Hogwarts..." Hermione shoulders tensed for a moment, before realizing the longing in her Head of House's eyes. "It was not how it was supposed to be. What she and her husband did... Just know that if you need anything, I'll be there to support you."
"Uhm... thank you professor."
"I just wished I could have donne the same for your mother."
"Yeah... right. Uhm, I should really get going. With lunch starting and all..."
"Yes, yes... please go. It's for the best."
Hermione was completely preplexed. First the Hufflepuff boy, now Professor McGonnagal... Why were they giving her their support? Not that it was a bad thing, just weird. Really weird.
She had never heard any stories about McGonnagal and her mother... Was she talking avout her school time or something else? She spoke about the future and after Hogwarts, so was it about joining the Death Eaters or going to Azkaban? Was there something else she was missing? Very likelly.
As she thought about all of this, Hermione headed in the direction of the Great Salon.
Instead of sitting next to her Gryfindor 'friends', she joined the Slytherin table.
"So? How did it go?" Pansy, of course, was scared for her friend.
"Meh, it was normal I guess. I gave the book to McGonnagal." Hermione said, while feeling up her plate.
"We almost couldn't finish in time. Right, Zabini?" Nott elbowed his best friend in the ribs.
"What?! I did my job!"
"You took ages!"
"Slowly but steady! That's my motto!"
"I thought your motto wa-" Zabini quickly covered his friends mouth, his cheeks turning red.
"Don't mind him, he doesn't know what he's saying. Poor boy, he's be- EEEEWWWWWW! YOU LICKED MY HAN!D!" Blaise was truning redder and redder by the minut.
"Next time don't put your hand over my mouth."
"Next time I might put something different in your mouth."
All of the friends went silent. Clearly Zabini was not thinking straight when he said that. Goyle and Crabbe had tears in their eyes from containing their laughth. Draco was gaping, his half eaten apple hanging from his hand. Milicent was enjoying every single moment of Zabini's sputtering and Pansy was pocking Hermione under the table.
Theo was just staring at his best friend. With one swift movement, he grab his hand and yanked him ou of his sit. Almost dragged him across the Great Hall.
"OH MY GOD! DID YOU SEE THAT!? THEY'RE SO CUTE TOGETHER! WE NEED TO TAKE PICTURES NOW! AWWWWWWWWWWW! I KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO BE TOGETHER! DO YOU THINK THEY'RE KISSING!? I THINK THEY'RE KISSING! AWWWWWW! I WISH I WAS A FLY!"
While Pansy fangirled about her friends being in love and all that, Hermione quietly slipped the letter to Draco. He scrunched his face, a reaction to the worried words of his mother.
"I'm not a baby"
"Of course not." Hermione tucked the letter back in her pocket. "The thing is, I think Dumbledoor knows something."
"About the letter? Do you think he read it?"
"No, I doubt that. But he wanted to talk about how I shouldn't trust your familly and tell him imideatly if any Death Eater tried to contact me."
"That's to be expected."
"Yeah, sure. But to have this conversation the exact same morning after I receive the letter from your mother? I think there's more to it."
"There's nothing we can do about it right now. Oh, but before I forget, we really should find a place where to study and train."
"It's easy to speak. You have any ideas?"
"No. You?"
"As if I have anytime to think about that. Bessides all that hapenned today, McGonnagal had a really strange conversation with me. About how she wasn't there for my mom..."
"I guess the best you have to do is to actually speak to my mom about it. She probably knows something about it."
"Thanks, Drac."
"Please, don't call me that."
To be continued...
A.N.: Hey guys! Sorry for taking so long to update. Hope you enjoied the chapter. Tell me what you thought and any sugestion you might have! By the way, you probably already know this, but now I have an Instagram account for all my fannart! The username is Nikas_13 with a pink icon, but you should see it just by writing nikas.
Anyway, hope it doesn't take so long to update next time. See you soon.
Adeus.