However, even the old nurse's patience grew thin.
"For Merlin's sake, girl, use that brain of yours and stand up for yourself!" Madam Pomfrey snapped when Hermione wobbled in about the hundredth time that term.
On the day of her departure, also the last day of the term, she woke early, and left the dormitory as silent as a mouse would have done. She had packed the night before, and her belongings were hidden in the locked cupboard in the bathroom. She had been afraid that if she left the things in plain sight, people would decide to jinx her belongings. It was sad that things had become so desperate. She retrieved her suitcase and charmed it to follow her as she made her way down to the common room.
It was still very early, much before dawn, so she was surprised to stumble upon Harry and Ron talking in low voices on one of the sofas. Unfortunately, she was not able to pass unnoticed, and they fell silent when they realised her presence. Both looked away from her, whether in shame or distrust, and began studying the fireplace intently. Hermione believed the answer was more likely to be the latter, but Hermione decided to speak to her friends, one last time, before she left for Phinxgild. No matter what their reactions, her conscience would not be soothed unless she had at least made some effort.
"Harry… Ron… I don't care whether you believe me or not, but I never betrayed you. And... you probably won't see me again." Hermione said quietly.
Ron's head snapped up.
"Are you going back to the Muggle World?" he asked, looking shocked.
This was the first time her best friends had spoken to her in weeks. If Hermione were not leaving, she would be swooning in happiness.
"No. I'm transferring schools." Hermione said.
"Why?" Ron asked again.
Hermione laughed.
"Isn't it obvious?"
Ron flushed and tried not to look at Hermione's face. Hermione's eyes were bloodshot and swollen from nightly grieving and she had cuts and bruises all over her. She had not tattled on anyone, although the headmaster had asked her to give him names. No, she let people hurt her, and she did not tell on them, because, one day, they would realise she was innocent, and when that day came, they would regret it. What better revenge would that be? Whether she would forgive them or not, was yet to be decided. However, Snape… An image of his cruel smirk as he turned and left her lying helplessly on the ground, almost beaten to death, flashed across her eyes. Tears threatened to spill over, but she held them back.
"No. This will be our last good bye. I suppose… I don't blame your reaction, Harry, nor yours Ron, since you both think that I have betrayed you."
"Are you saying Dumbledore's a liar?" Harry said quietly in rage.
"I never said anything of the sort." Hermione snorted. "I'm just saying that he has been misled."
She left then; out through the portrait-hole, down the stairs, down the familiar hallways… She touched the walls and smiled at the paintings, most of which held sleeping characters, and remembered the events that she had been present at. The Triwizard Tournament seemed like another lifetime ago. Tears fell, once more, but these were tears for the happier memories. She shook her head and turned away. The temptation of one last glance in the Great Hall was too great for her to escape. She went inside and shut the door behind her, before sitting down at the seat she used to sit in, when Harry and Ron were still her best friends.
The ceiling was a dark pinkish colour. The colour of the sun peeping just above the horizon and spreading its rays from the East. It was still too early for the students to get up, but the hall was already immaculate – courtesy of the house-elves. She sighed, remembering when she was still campaigning for S.P.E.W. She gave up on that quite a while ago, after repeated arguments with Ron. She lay her head on the table and stared blankly at the wall.
Her escort to the school was due to arrive at seven, and Hermione sat in the Great Hall for three hours, waiting, before she made her way out again. Just before her hand reached the handle, a voice stopped her.
"You will be missed, Miss Granger."
"Good morning, Professor Dumbledore." No matter how hard she tried, she could not keep the cold and bitterness from her voice.
Half of her really wanted revenge, and wished Hermione would just strangle the old man, but seeing him, standing just behind her, looking old and tired, melted her hatred and bitterness temporarily. His eyes were very sad.
"I doubt that people will miss me very much. At least, inter-house unity has been gained… at my expense." Hermione said dryly.
"I wish that it had been achieved some other way than violence."
"No one stepped in to my aid, Professor. Not even you." Hermione knew her words would wound him, but her anger was building and she felt the need for vengeance even stronger now.
"I apologise d—"
"No, Professor. You are not sorry. You are glad that there is peace within the school. You sacrificed me, Professor, and you should have considered that the night you summoned us to your office. You had no solid proof. You did not allow me to investigate, nor did you allow me to defend myself." Hermione said harshly.
It was only then that the headmaster truly saw the emotions that Hermione now had. Gone was the childish happiness; gone was the want for acknowledgement; gone was the burning desire for adventure. In her eyes, there was a broken spirit peering out at him. A broken and bitter person stood before him. She was a stranger. She was no longer the child who cared only for perfect results, or the one who had helped Harry save Sirius Black all those years ago. Her eyes were filled with pain. Dumbledore looked away, unable to look further. The first students began filing in for breakfast, just as a gong-like sound echoed through the Great Hall, causing the few who were present and had been glaring at Hermione, to look out into the Entrance Hall. Hermione held her head high and left the Great Hall, followed by Dumbledore.
More people appeared. Some whispered as they saw a tall, elegantly dressed man step into the Entrance Hall. He was tall, and had a certain air about him. Should he have walked into a crowded ballroom, he would have been the focus of most, if not all, of those present. He wore robes of a dark blue shade, and his brown eyes twinkled just as Dumbledore's did. He, too, had a beard, though not as long as Dumbledore's and his was brown, as his hair was. He looked young, and the creases on the corners of his eyes betrayed him to be a rather jolly person. He shook hands with Dumbledore and they chatted for a while.
More and more students began to appear. Hermione was the only other person than the two men, who was standing in the area below the steps. She did not look up at the other students, nor did she acknowledge their presence. However, she could hear the vicious words being spoken about her.
"Look it's that hag!"
"The frigid little b—"
"She's leaving? That's good."
If only Hermione had not been friends with Harry, then this whole fuss would not have been so big. But, if she were given the choice, she would not exchange them for anyone else, nor the memories of their times together.
Soon, the man finished speaking and he introduced himself to Hermione.
"Miss Granger? It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Professor Faleys. Come, I expect that you would like to say goodbye to a few of your friends before we leave?" He said.
"No, thank you, Professor. I have already said goodbye… to the ones that count." Hermione said, putting on as bright a smile as she could muster.
She could see Dumbledore's expression changing to one of surprise from her peripheral vision. Omnipotent my ar--
"Very well. It is time for us to move on. I think that you will be able to settle in very quickly. We will be in touch, Professor Dumbledore?"
Dumbledore nodded and smiled.
"Thank you for all the kindness that you have shown me in the past, Professor." Hermione said, bowing slightly in respect, but still emphasising the fact that he had betrayed her trust.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Snape pausing for a moment and looking slightly surprised. Hermione wondered why she ever defended the man. He was exactly what Ron said. Thinking of Ron, Hermione turned once more and caught his and Harry's eye, before leaving. Strangely, both seemed to be a little sad to see her go, even though she had 'betrayed' them. Dumbledore handed a small rusty key to Professor Faleys, who held Hermione's hand, who was clenching the handle of her suitcase tightly. Suddenly, there was a jerk behind her navel and the world became a whirlpool of colours.
They arrived at their destination with a bang. Quite literally. Hermione's suitcase had bounced and burst open with a loud clamour. Hermione had barely enough time to wave her wand, muttering a spell, to stop the contents from spilling out. She lost her balance and toppled onto the floor, much to her embarrassment. But Professor Faleys lifted Hermione to her feet, smiling jovially. Finally, she was allowed to look around her as they made their way through the building. As they walked, Professor Faleys began describing the school to her.
Phinxgild was originally a small house, comprising of one teacher and a small group of children, but as time passed, it grew and grew, until there were a little less than two hundred students in the school. The building, to Muggles, looked like an abandoned factory, but actually resembled a very old and large manor. There were four towers at each corner of the school, one for each house. The centre was about the size of three Quidditch pitches side by side and seven stories high. It was not quite as grand as Hogwarts, but there was a very mysterious, yet homey, feeling in the corridors. Some parts were dark, some parts bright. There was also a courtyard. Students got up later in this school, but finished later in the day as well. Some even had lessons after dinner. The grounds were extensive, and despite there being a large number of requests for a Quidditch pitch, it was non-existent for the moment. The school was originally founded for those who were not able to travel so far up to Hogwarts, or wished to be day-students.
As for everyone attending a new school. The surroundings are very unfamiliar and strange, and one feels uncomfortable after a while. However, Hermione was, like in a trance, listening attentively to the Professor, and only noticed, when they had reached a large portrait of a golden sea-nymph, that her suitcase was not with them.
"Oh! The house-elves will bring it up to your room once you have been sorted. We have a Sorting Hat too. It was an idea we took from Hogwarts." He chuckled as he said a password.
The portrait swung open, and they entered into the office. Inside, it was very neat. She knew immediately that this was the headmaster's office. There were strange things decorating the walls. They were magical items, and Hermione could tell that they were very rare, and very old, possibly ancient.
"Where is the headmaster?" Hermione asked.
The Professor smiled at her, before sliding into the seat behind the desk.
"Why, I am here!"
Hermione was shocked. She stammered an apology, but he merely laughed and gestured for her to sit. She obeyed and was offered tea, which she gratefully accepted. As they were both drinking their teas, Hermione felt his eyes on her, and she looked away.
"Miss Granger. I know what you have been accused off," Hermione shifted uncomfortably as he said this. "but as long as there is no solid proof, I am going to treat you as an innocent, because, for all we know, you are. However, should serious injuries be caused at your hand, I mean, more than the usual occasional hexing that you get in the corridors," He chuckled again. "I will be forced to suspend you. From what I have seen so far, you seem like a very intelligent and sensible girl, and I don't see how… anyway, you are safe from harm here, and nobody will know what you do not want to divulge; other than your name and age and house, since you must be sorted."
Hermione was feeling less uncomfortable. The headmaster seemed to understand that she had not been in terribly good relations with her classmates in school. She smiled and nodded. Hopefully she would be able to forget the past and move on, now that she was away from Hogwarts. But, how she missed it terribly!
"Let me explain to you what the four houses are. As you probably know, they are not named after the founder, but instead, after different stones: Topaz, Amethyst, Emerald and Diamond. The founder of Phinxgild was related to the founders of Hogwarts, so there are similarities between the houses. Diamond is the equivalent of Ravenclaws, Topaz is Hufflipuff, Amethyst – Gryffindor, and Emerald is Slytherin. The hat chooses the one it thinks suits you best, but you can decide to go elsewhere. The Emeralds are much less strict about the need to be pureblood, and the most powerful and ambitious witches and wizards go here regardless of heritage. Diamond is the house for those who have a great potential in learning and research, and may not necessarily be intelligent. They only need to be resourceful and have the potential. Topazes in general are the most kind-hearted and make very good peacemakers and decision-makers. The Amethysts are usually very courageous and direct, but many, who are as cowardly as a person from any other house, which may not be very much less than the Amethysts, are loyal to boot and treasure friendship more than any other house."
He sighed.
"You may have been a Gryffindor at Hogwarts, but I must warn you that you may not be Amethyst, so do not be shocked if you are sorted elsewhere. All of the students are a mixture of what the houses represent, but some of their qualities are more prominent than others. Ah! Breakfast should be over by now. How time flies!"
And so, Hermione suddenly found herself being ushered across the school, and through a side-door and into a large assembly hall. All the students immediately fell silent. It was obvious that the only ones present were sixth and seventh years. In the middle of the stage was a stool with a ragged old hat on it. The headmaster stepped forward and spoke. Even without a charm, everyone could hear his voice clearly.
"Good morning! Now, as you have all guessed, or at least, I've hoped you've guessed, that we have a new student who is going to be continuing her studies here. Her name is Hermione Granger. I hope that you will all make her feel as welcome as possible. Come over, Miss Granger."