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4- Not So Random
Dear Hermione,
How is your vacation? Although, I try to pretend mine is cool, it isn't. I have absolutely nothing to do. I wish I could use magic outside of Hogwarts. I mean, what's the point? We have learned how to use magic, but outside of Hogwarts we can't use it.
My cousins came to spend the week here. They are horrible. They are always screaming and demanding things, as if they were kings or something. I'm never going to have kids, really!
I bet your vacation is great! You do not know how lucky you are not to have cousins. How is France? I went with my parents in a small town near Paris about two years ago. It was really cool.
Miss you,
Alice.
Dear Alice,
My vacation is great! It barely started and fortunately I finished all the assignments and read most of our books for our second year. I am so happy! Will they finally let us join in the duelling club?
We met a small family in the south of France and my parents are absolutely in love with them. They don't have many friends in London since they are always very busy with the clinic, so they don't go out too much. This couple also have one child. He's okay, I suppose. Very quiet and shy, but okay.
I'm sorry your vacation was so bad. I wish I had cousins! It is much better to have a large family than to be the only child.
And Alice, who are you trying to fool? Of course you will have children! Or do you think I haven't seen you drawing an imaginary family between you and you-know-who?
I miss you too!
Hermione.
Mione,
I'm sorry for the delay in answering your letters. I have not been feeling well lately. I think I got a cold.
Anyway, I'm also very excited for the duelling club! I cannot wait to get back to Hogwarts.
How are you? Sirius complained in his last letter that you were trying to get him to study on his vacation. Why do you still try?
Remus.
Remus, hey!
I hope you get well soon. By the way, how's your mother doing? She got better? Dragon Pox is contagious, you know. Watch out!
Sirius had better be ashamed of whining to you. He has to take his studies more ... serious (haha!). The boy is always saying that in the future he will be an Auror. With those notes, I do not think so!
I'm fine, by the way. Thanks for asking. I cannot wait for the beginning of the semester.
Hermione.
Mione!
What's wrong with using nicknames? Remus calls you by "Mione" too!
How is your vacation? I hope it is going well. Mine is great. Sirius came to spend a few days with me - Merlin knows he needed time away from his family - and since then we've been playing Quidditch every day. This year the Slytherins better prepare, after all, I'll be the new top Chaser!
Seriously Mione, it's three weeks until the end of the vacation, and do you really want me to waste it doing homework? Of course not. Why do you think the trip back to Hogwarts is so time-consuming? Sirius and I will do everything on the train, of course!
Regards,
James
PS: I can not wait for the semester to start! I need your help to make some potions!
James,
You know I do not like nicknames! What's wrong with saying "Hermione"? It's not very difficult! Remus says it differently, so he's allowed.
My vacation is great, thank you very much. You're so convinced! I do not know how your head does not explode, James. How can you be so sure you'll be the next top chaser?
You and Sirius should be ashamed of yourselves. Shame on you. If you guys want to become aurors, you should study more because with those notes, I do not think you will be successful. I know what you're thinking.
"We're in our second bloody year." Well, so? The sooner you start getting good grades, the better.
Regards,
HERMIONE!
Ps: I will not help you to torture Slytherins again! For God's sake, James, grow up!
Granger!
For the last time, I will not do my homework now. Anyway, I'm very busy. I'm going to be a beater this year! I have to train.
I already read all about your vacation in the letter you sent to James, so I won't even ask. My vacation is great. At least now that I'm in the Potter's, my holiday is cool. But I suppose you already know that.
How come you will not help us with the potions? I feel betrayed.
Sirius.
Sirius,
I officially give up trying to convince you, but with these notes you can give a "bye" to the Auror Academy. Yes, I already know everything about your vacation. James kept me updated.
Why would I help you with the potions? I do not want to get detention like last time, thank you very much.
Hermione.
Her vacation had passed very quickly, and before she realized it, Hermione was on the train back to Hogwarts. Her mother had been becoming very sentimental lately, and because of that, she had a fit of tears as she said goodbye to her.
She was having trouble carrying her trunk. Really, Alice was right. If she could use magic outside of Hogwarts, her trunk would already be in her pocket. Sighing, Hermione continued to try to pull her trunk until suddenly, with a fervent attempt the young witch made every effort to pull her trunk, but unfortunately it was in vain and she ended up falling backwards, hitting a tall, slender body and causing them both to fall to the ground.
"I'm sorry!". Hermione said, trying to get up.
"No problem". A thick voice answered her with a laugh. With skill, the boy ducked from her and managed to get up. Helping her, Hermione took the wizard's outstretched hand and stood up.
He was much taller than her. She had always been a small child and it did not help that the boy with long red hair in front of her was like a wall. Glancing at his freckled face, Hermione smiled at him when a familiar feeling struck in her. His blue eyes reminded her of someone and she could not help, but feeling happy.
"Fabian Prewett." He introduced himself.
"Hermione Granger".
"What were you trying to do, Hermione? Kill me? "
"My trunk was very heavy." She replied turning red.
"Are you a witch or not?" Fabian asked humorously. With a wave of his wand, her trunk shrank until he could fit into her pocket. Hermione's eyes widened.
"Well, I could do that, but it is against the rules." She said raising her freckled little nose in the air.
"If you don't tell, I won't say." Fabian said. "Besides, how will they know it was you? There are a lot of wizards here. The ministry cannot tell who cast the spell, only where. For all they know, it may have been a parent or a seventh year student". He whispered the last part.
'So, they do not know who did magic? "
"Nope."
"If I do some spell now they won't know?"
"Nope."
"Cool!". Hermione smiled and then frowned as she looked at Fabian and saw that he was a Gryffindor. "How did I never see you?"
"Well, last year you were a firstie. I'm in fifth year. I couldn't associate with you. I was going to destroy my image". He replied arrogantly as the two of them moved on the train.
"But the age difference remains the same, so why are you joining me now?".
"Well, you're not in your first year are you Hermione?"
"No".
"So you have your answer." Looking into a compartment, Fabian smiled. "See you around, kid."
"I'm not a kid". Hermione said frowning as Fabian smiled at her.
"Of course not". He said smiling as he entered the compartment. Stopping at the door, Fabian gave her a last wave before closing the door behind him.
"Oh I'm sorry". Hermione whispered again. What was her problem that she could not stop herself from hitting others?
"With this unusually thick hair, it is understandable that your vision has been obscured." A voice answered slowly.
"Severus". Hermione greeted him by rolling her big brown eyes.
"Snape." The boy corrected her.
"How was your vacation, Severus?" Hermione asked ignoring him.
"It was normal."
"Mine was great." She said in response. "We went to France, my parents and I, I mean. Actually, I always go there. My mother is French, you see ... ".
"Granger, if I wanted a narrative about your vacation or your lineage, I would have asked." The boy interrupted her impatiently. Hermione could only smile at him. He was a unique person, in fact. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Lily's waiting for me." And with that Severus Snape followed his way without another word.
Frankly, the boy could probably get into a theater club. He liked to be dramatic, Hermione thought, laughing at herself. Quickly, and without bumping into anyone else, the girl went on her way on the train and when she found who she was looking for, she went inside.
Alice, Dorcas, and Marlene were sitting debating the newest edition published by the Witch Weekly, but when they saw her come in, they stopped talking.
"Hermione!" Alice smiled as the girl sat down. "Where's your trunk?" Hermione smiled at the question and pulled her mini-chest out of her pockets.
"Nice!".
"How did you do it?". Dorcas asked to her.
"A boy in fifth year helped me. Fabian ".
"Gideon and he are so handsome." Marlene said dreamily. Alice and Dorcas nodded. Hermione frowned. Yes, she supposed Fabian was handsome, but he looked so much like someone she knew, that the idea of thinking of him as something more than someone cute seemed a little disgusting.
"I suppose so". The young witch said. "Who is Gideon?"
"His twin." Alice replied
"Oh."
"Yes, 'oh.'" Marlene replied raising her eyebrow suggestively. Hermione wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"Oh please Mione-".
"Hermione!"
"-do you think that only Remus is handsome?". Alice asked. The other two girls laughed.
"What?". Hermione asked confused.
"Everyone knows you two are ... I do not know, a thing." Marlene said.
"We're only eleven!"
"You're twelve." Dorcas pointed.
"Well, yes, but he's eleven!"
"So?" The other three girls asked.
"I do not like him". Hermione said in a whisper as her cheeks turned red. Was it hot or was it her impression?
"Deny all you want, Hermione." Alice said in the middle of a laugh. "Deny all you want".
After that, the train journey passed quickly. On her way to the toilets she had bumped into Lucius Malfoy - really, what was her problem? – And predictably he had mocked her.
The sorting had passed quickly, and when the students were finally able to eat, a small explosion had sounded on the Slytherin table. Fireworks had exploded under the snakes' head, covering them with a kind of pink glitter. In the midst of laughter, Dumbledore stood up, wagged his wand, and suddenly all the students were clean again, much to the dismay of a small group of Gryffindor pranksters.
To the immense displeasure of the young witch, the second years were not invited to the duelling club. As their Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher had proven himself somewhat ... well, useless, the club had been postponed.
Her enmity toward Lily Evans had not diminished. It seemed that the girl was taking a greater and greater dislike for the young brown haired witch. Hermione could not believe that she really had so much hatred for her over academics.
James, Sirius, Peter and Remus were found together at all times. Quickly, the school began to call them "The Marauders." Hermione could only think that this new nickname would help to inflate their heads more and more.
Her studies with Remus were becoming more time-consuming. Each day they debated new subjects and she discovered that they were very similar. Apart from the fact that he was commonly associated with somewhat questionable practices, Hermione was glad to have found a male counterpart.
Hermione's flashes were dwindling with the passing of the year. She still had a steady stream of knowledge when she was in class or reading a book, but Hermione no longer had random visions bothering her.
James and Sirius, on the other hand, did not leave her alone. They'd been begging her to help with a few pranks and no matter how she tried, she really could not resist them. She supposed she had some rebelliousness inside her.
Fabian and Gideon - after she met him - seemed to have taken a liking to her. The twins always spoke to anyone who wanted to hear how they had adopted her and that she would be their newest project. Hermione did not like the sound of it. Something told her that nothing good would come from these two.
Peter, she had discovered, was really very docile. After the initial phase, in which she inexplicably wanted to kill him for some reason passed, she had stayed with him more and discovered more of her calm side. He was just an excited boy trying to show others that he was capable. Somehow, when she looked at the little fat boy, she remembered herself.
Christmas came and with it, snow came to Hogwarts. Although she loved the idea of staying in her school for the holiday, she couldn't leave her parents. Something was telling her that she should grab all the time available with them. So, to the disappointment of her friends, she returned home.
Just as Christmas came, it passed, and soon she was going back to Hogwarts again. The end of the term came as a leap and Hermione found herself overwhelmed by her year-end exams. Of course, she already knew everything, but studying would not hurt.
Her summer vacation had finally begun and she could not help noticing that something more important was beginning. It was on a Tuesday morning when an owl came in through her window and delivered the "Daily Prophet" that she had a feeling that everything would change.
She could not explain why she opened it on that particular page. In the future, if she were to tell someone her thought process she would not be able to explain exactly what had happened. It was as if her body had a mind of its own and suddenly it had opened to the page that at first seemed random.
Her eyes moved to a note at the corner of the page. Her parents argued about something when she read "Muggle family is found dead".
Her blood froze. Then, as if everything suddenly made sense, she remembered.
Note: Thank you all for reading it. Please, let me know what you though about this chapter!
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