Hello, my freaky darlings! I hope everyone is well. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Thank you all so much for reading. I owe nothing, but that's okay, means less in property taxes.
Chapter Six: Back to Hogwarts
Nervously, Hermione knocked on Narcissa's salon door. The blonde witch sat at her desk working on her correspondence. "Am I interrupting? I can come back. I'm interrupting, you're busy." She started to retreat.
"No. No, darling, come in. All of this can wait. How can I help you?"
Hermione shifted her weight before surging forward into the room. She wrung her hands, "I'm not sure how to ask this, because I don't know what it is I want to ask exactly."
The older woman took her hands and pulled her over to a sofa. "Take your time. Start at the beginning and work your way through."
She took a deep breath, "I haven't had the time or inclination to care about my looks until very recently. I was also influenced from a young age to believe the only thing I had to offer was being smart and knowing things. That I was not attractive at all."
"Oh, Hermione, that is simply not true. You are lovely. I'm sure your classmates didn't help the matter. Children and teenagers can be so cruel. But you went to Yule Ball with an international quidditch player. I remember Draco's ranting letters. Reading between the lines you were radiant. And from Lucius's reports, Draco wasn't the only one thinking so." She smiled kindly.
"I remember everyone being surprised. Ginny said I cleaned up decently when I tried, pity it took so much effort."
Narcissa looked stricken, "Having a friend say something like that must have hurt more than if an enemy had."
"Yeah, I don't know if Ginny was ever my friend."
"Well, here's what we're going to do, every day you will tell, or write me one good thing about your appearance."
"Aren't we supposed to care more about what is on the inside?"
Narcissa waved her off, "Yes, yes, but we know you're intelligent and wonderful to the people you care about. We know you are brave and loyal, even to those who never earned it. We know all that. What you don't know is how beautiful you are. So, every day you will pay yourself a compliment, it doesn't have to be fancy, it can be as simple as 'my brown eyes look like melted chocolate.'"
"Every day?" she whined.
"I'll expect a daily owl while you're at Hogwarts?"
"Are you serious?"
"No, that is my late cousin, but I do intend to have you continue during your NEWTs. We're breaking down seven years of negative thoughts. We cannot afford to skip even one day. Let's hear it?"
"Right now?"
"Right now."
"Um, well, that is, I suppose my new haircut and shampoo makes my hair more manageable."
"That's a start. I'll have Bee procure you the products Bellatrix and Sirius used when we were younger and they cared enough to make an effort. We can also go over beauty charms and products, or I can find you reading materials."
"Thank you, I appreciate it."
"You are most welcome, lovely girl."
-oOoOo-
Voldemort supplied Hermione with fake credentials to use for her NEWTs. With a cheeky grin, she fastened a new charm to her bracelet and activated it. Her hair straightened into pin straight tresses, lightening to a bright blonde. Her nose changed shape and her lips pulled into a bow tie. Bellatrix snorted, "Easily erased, foolish child." Finite Incantatem," The smirk slid from her face when nothing changed.
"I took that into account. But thank you, Mrs. Lestrange, I appreciate your concern." She beamed at Bellatrix's sneer of rage.
Narcissa struggled to hide her laughter, "Very impressive, Miss Granger. Your portkey is ready. Good luck. Don't forget to owl."
"Thank you, Mrs. Malfoy. I'll try." She took the small token.
Rodolphus gave her a reassuring grin, "You'll do great. Remember to take your time, think about your answer. See you in two weeks."
Impulsively, she lunged forward to give him a quick hug. "See you soon." She released him and stepped back, "Portus."
The portkey deposited her at the Hogsmeade train station. A drawn, tired looking Professor McGonagall stood with a gathering of nervous looking teenagers. She noticed Hermione's arrival. "Name, please?"
"Hermia Spartis."
McGonagall crossed her off a list. "Welcome to Hogsmeade, Miss Spartis. We are waiting for the last home student then we will take the carriages over there to the castle."
Hermione nodded and joined the others. Shortly, Roland Westrook arrived. McGonagall cleared her throat for attention. "If you will follow me, we will depart for the castle." She led them over to the thestral lead carriages.
"What pulls them?" whispered a small mousy girl, obviously an OWL student.
"Thestrals," Hermione answered without thinking.
The deputy head nodded, "Astute deduction, Miss Spartis."
"Not really, ma'am. I can see them."
"My condolences then."
"Thank you, ma'am."
After her near slip, Hermione made sure to mimic the others, looking about in mild curiosity, reminding herself Hermia had never been to the castle before. She sighed quietly, once the castle had been home, full of laughter and friends. Now, she questioned how sincere any of the friends had been, and how much laughter had been at her expense. She mentally rolled her eyes at her conceit. She doubted many of them ever thought of her at all.
McGonagall stopped them just inside the front doors. "In years past, home school students such as yourselves would have been tested at the ministry. This year they decided to test you all with the rest of the 5th and 7th-year students here at Hogwarts."
"That must be easier for the examiners," remarked Roland, "though horribly inconvenient for you, ma'am."
She gave him a tight smile, "We persevere. You will be guests here for the next two weeks." She explained the rules, curfew, and how the exams would be conducted. "The staff prepared accommodations for you, but your peers suggested you might be interested in being sorted and rooming with them." Hermione preferred the neutral rooms, but from the buzzed whispers surrounding her, she appeared to be the sole minority. "Very well, I shall notify the Headmaster."
Hermione groaned silently. She just wanted to get the exams over with as quickly as possible, with the least amount of hassle from the other students. Then again, no one would know she wasn't the pureblood new girl she pretended to be, so at least there was that. The sweet-looking girl next to her gave her a shy smile. "You don't want to know what house you belong to?"
Hermione shrugged, "I never really gave it much thought, honestly. I'm here to complete my education. I doubt we'll have the time to make life-long friendships."
"That's true. And these days you never know who to make friends with." Hermione raised an eyebrow. "You know, people who only want to be friendly because of who your family is."
"Oh sure."
"I'm Olive Whitehorn."
"Nice to meet you, Olive. Hermia Spartis."
"You have no idea who my family is do you?"
"No, sorry, I traveled overseas most of my life."
My father started the Nimbus Broom company."
Oh, I have heard of those. Um, I hope you enjoy flying," Hermione remarked dryly.
Olive tittered briefly before answering, "It's okay, I suppose."
McGonagall returned and lead them into the Great Hall. In a moment of deja vu, she leaned over and whispered to Olive, "The founders enchanted the ceiling to reflect the sky above it."
"Amazing," the other girl breathed back.
The twenty home school students filed down the hall between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables. Hermione noticed familiar faces gawking at them. "Feels like lambs to the slaughter," someone in the group said in a low voice. She suspected several regretted the choice to be sorted and mingle with their peers. As the sorting began she chanted her fake name in her head so she remembered to respond.
"Spartis, Hermia." She took a seat on the stool as the Sorting Hat was lowered onto her head.
"Hello again, Miss Granger. Should I be sorting you again?"
"If you don't want to meet ravenous moth larva you should."
"So vengeful."
"I always have been."
Very true. I assume your desire to hide means no Gryffindor?"
Mentally she shrugged, "Put me where I belong. It is only for two weeks regardless."
The hat pondered for several heartbeats. "You could belong anywhere, but this time, better be RAVENCLAW!" She flashed a smile at Olive as she moved to her table. She flashed her new acquaintance a moue of pout when she was sorted into Hufflepuff moments later.
Su Li and Lisa Turpin insisted she sit between them. They questioned her endlessly until dessert appeared and she managed to change the subject to Hogwarts. Instantly, they regaled her with facts and pointed out the popular or powerful students. "Harry Potter isn't here this year. Rumors say he's trying to stop You-Know-Who," Lisa confided in her.
"Which does mean no Granger," Kevin Entwhistle smirked. "Ravenclaws have held all the top spots this year, not just one Gryffindor." They all cheered themselves. Hermione gave them a tight uncomfortable smile.
"Though I miss her revision timetables. Made preparing for exams WAY easier," Padma Patil admitted.
Knowing she had never given them to any of the students at this table, but wanting to know how they got copies, she asked, "She made you copies? That was kind of her."
"Um, no," Padma had the decency to look guilty, "my twin is in Gryffindor, once Granger fell asleep she would make me a copy and I would share with the others."
"She wouldn't have shared if you asked?" Hermione questioned with fake insult on their behalves.
Su Li frowned, "Honestly, she probably would have, but it's hard to ask for something you mocked. To the person's face," she flashed Hermione a grimace.
"Oh, well, there is that, I suppose," Hermione replied lamely. The end of the feast saved them from further awkward discussion.
"Follow us," Michael Corner gestured for her to join them. "The common room doors are secret. Only a Ravenclaw can show you where it is." She numbly followed them up to a tower across the castle from Gryffindor Tower. An eagle knocker asked a riddle. Even though she knew the answer she stood silently for nearly ten minutes while they puzzled it over.
At that point, Luna Lovegood skipped up and answered it instantly. Instead of thanking her, the older students rolled their eyes and brushed past her. Hermione trailed behind them. "Thank you," she murmured as she passed her friend.
Luna blinked, briefly surprised, then in confusion, before brightening. "You're welcome." She made her way up to her dorm after giving Hermione a little wave.
"This way, Hermia," called Mandy Brocklehurst.
She obediently returned her attention to the 7th years, "Who was that?"
"Looney Lovegood, she's a 6th year. Don't mind her, she's harmless."
"Her name is Looney?"
"Her name is Luna, but she's so weird we call her Looney."
"Oh, I see." Hermione settled in for the night feeling even more isolated than she had before. The raw emotions after discovering Ron cheating with Harry flooded back in the familiar setting. The feelings of betrayal and misuse from others. Flitting moments of guilty after admitting their mistreatment of another didn't stop them from mistreating a housemate, their "family." Someone they had barely known when they decided not to get to know her and began bullying. She groaned, rolled over, and willed herself to sleep. She knew she shouldn't be surprised by it, she just wished they had proved her wrong.
The exams proved to be just as difficult and exhausting as Hermione anticipated. She enjoyed not being overwhelmed by classmates demanding assistance when the panic set in. And at the Gryffindor table, there seemed to be plenty of panic. On the Saturday between exam weeks, Hermione roamed the castle. Unintentionally, her feet brought her to the Room of Requirement. She contemplated the blank wall, debating whether or not to go in.
"At a crossroads?" an airy voice asked.
She startled, turning to face the new person, "Hello."
Luna smiled, "Hello, Hermione."
"I'd ask how you know, but you're Luna, and that in itself is the answer."
The blonde grinned, "Now that you know the truth, can I see what the castle showed you?"
Not even bothering to ask how the other girl knew, she answered, "Why not?" Hermione paced asking for the truth Hogwarts had shown her the previous year. The door appeared. "Luna, I've always wanted to ask, do you have the Sight?"
"Not prophecy, or anything, but I know things."
Hermione pulled open the door, "Come on in."
"Why thank you." She walked into the room, followed by Hermione.
"Have your shoes reappeared, yet?"
"No, but they will."
"That doesn't make it right," Hermione snapped. Luna shrugged. Hermione let the matter drop.
As they crossed the room to the wall covered in tapestries, Luna remarked, "Very clever naming yourself as a daughter of Sparta, Helen's daughter."
"Glad you approve."
"You're just happy someone caught it."
"That, too."
Hanging on the wall five tapestries swayed slightly in the air current. Luna ran her hand over them. "Red and gold for Gryffindor, extinct through all cadet branches, one descendant. Ravenclaw, blue and bronze, extinct through all cadet lines, two descendants." She looked at Hermione.
"A 93-year-old spinster in Albania."
Luna nodded and skipped over the largest tapestry, to the yellow and black one, "Hufflepuff, extinct in all cadet branches, one descendant. Green and silver for Slytherin, one descendant in the cadet branch, two descendants. That would be you and Voldemort."
"Correct."
Luna returned the tapestry. The school crest sat on a field of black. Offspring of each founder were embroidered in red, blue, yellow, and green. When a child of more than one founder occurred the colors alternated. At the bottom, red and green letters formed Malcolm Nigel Granger, while yellow and blue letters created Eleanor Jean Banks. Hermione's name shone in all four colors. "Your dad came from Godric and Salazar."
"A fact that amuses me endlessly." She addressed the room at large. "May I have a copy for myself, please?" A new smaller tapestry appeared, detailing her heritage. On it were lines leading back to Merlin and Circe, as well as the Founders.
"Wow, Hermione, you come from really powerful wizards." Hermione nodded in response as she placed the banner in her beaded bag. "Do you know which road you are going to choose?" Luna asked in a small voice.
"I respect you enough to be honest," she sighed. "I don't know. All I know is I'm tired of feeling manipulated and used. The supposed paragons of light repressed my knowledge of who my ancestors might have been, keeping me a nobody. They treated me like a puppet. When people mention Hermione Granger they sneer and laugh, while admitting they have, and would again, abuse my willingness to help others learn. A willingness I'm not even sure was my own originally. I've yet to hear anyone defend me, or even really speak well of me." She hugged herself, "I don't agree with all the atrocities committed by the Death Eaters, or accept all their philosophies." She started towards the door. "Right now I want a practical education so I can defend myself."
"Do you trust he will let you leave?"
She showed her the charm on her necklace, "I can leave anytime I want, emergency portkey." She fiddled with the charm while in thought, "Choosing not to choose is, in fact, a choice."
"True. Though, you've been out of contact most of the year. After Dumbledore died something changed. There is still fighting and attacks on the opposition, but not as much senseless violence. Professor Snape has kept the Carrows from outright torture. And while the Ministry kept the confiscated wands of muggleborns, they were returned to their homes in March. No more registration or questioning."
"That's nice, I suppose. I just feel numb, Luna. I can't forget, and I don't know if I want to forgive."
"And both sides want you." Luna took her hand to stop her progress. "Soon you won't feel nothing anymore. Your passion will come back, and when it does, I'll be there."
"What?"
Luna squeezed her hand, "Even when you didn't believe me, you never belittled me. And you've been standing up for me this whole week. Tomorrow you'll mention my lack of shoes and express disappointment at the theft. I choose you."
Hermione's eyes teared up, "Even if I choose dark?"
"Even if you decide to overthrow Voldemort and burn down the world."
"Ambitious, aren't you?" Hermione laughed, "Thank you, Luna. C'mon, we need to get back."
Sunday morning Luna skipped down to the common in the most garish socks Hermione had ever seen, Dumbledore would have been envious. Before Hermione could say anything, Roland spoke up, "Good gracious, girl, where are your shoes?"
Luna shrugged, "They like to wander away, they always come back before the end of the term."
"They wander away?" he looked puzzled, trying to remember if this was a Hogwart's phenomenon.
Hermione stepped next to him, "She means her dorm mates steal things but return them before her parents can report them missing. She's just too polite to say anything in front of them."
His face fell in dismay, "How horrible."
"Indeed." She turned to Luna, "Join us at breakfast, won't you?"
"Oh, yes, do." Roland brightened, offering Luna his arm. During the remaining week, he made sure to protect and encourage Luna, much to her delight and Hermione's amusement.
Finishing the last question, Hermione proofread her answers to the Ancient Runes exam. Her last NEWT, her last question, the end of her formal education. She stretched and laid her quill down. A bit bittersweet, really, no proud parents waiting to congratulate her, no ceremony to announce her accomplishments. Another sacrifice for the light no one would ever acknowledge or apologize for. She watched the proctor summon the folders. She followed the rest of the home-schooled students out of the castle and down to the village. Not formally enrolled at the school, they had no reason to remain after the testing completed. Headmaster Snape accompanied them to the village. "May I congratulate you on a job well done completing your final exams. The results will be tabulated and sent to you over the summer months. Those of you capable of doing so may apparate home now. The floos at the Three Broomsticks are available for the rest of you." He nodded to them and apparated back to the castle.
Most of the others headed towards the floos. Hermione elected to say her farewells and apparate back to Malfoy Manor. Bee welcomed her back, informing her the Malfoys were away, but Bee was to inform the Master's lord that she had returned. Voldemort sent a note welcoming her back and promising to send a tutor the next day. She shrugged and head up to her room to unpack and relax with a long soak in her sinfully delicious tub.