School Begins
The next morning was a flurry of activity. Isabella insisted on packing and checking Hermione's trunk, so bored and unneeded Hermione retreated to the barn. She decided to ride Sky one more time before school began. She promised Dan she'd be back for Christmas.
"I was wondering if there's anyway we can have an indoor arena built?" Hermione said, she'd been contemplating it since she'd seen the grounds lacked one, and the idea of not riding at Christmas, when she had horses at her disposal, was not one she wanted to face. Dean shrugged.
"We can try, anything is possible when you put your mind to it."
"Will you see if you can find a carpenter willing to take on a project this late in the year? You can owl me when you do and I'll send a check from my muggle account."
"Muggle…?" he said slowly, looking unsure.
"I don't want any magic in a riding arena…It could interfere. You can hire several if it'll get the job done sooner…" She said, sure of herself. She'd mulled over it for a while the night before, and decided that she might as well go for it.
"Any other instructions?" he questioned, after promising he would look into it as soon as possible.
"Keep doing whatever you've been doing for the past sixteen years." She smiled and surprised him by throwing her arms around him. "Thanks for everything Dean," he chuckled and hugged her tightly.
"Have a good school year."
"I'll be back for Christmas. We'll have a feast. I'll start sending owls in early December about it."
"Just like old times…Off with you," she smiled all the way to the house.
Draco was kneeling in front of the fireplace and Hermione presumed he was talking to someone. She sat and patiently waited, glancing around the room. She noticed Archimedes, perching on the back of a chair, and held out her arm clicking her tongue softly. It was a note from Harry.
Hermione,
The ministry's sending cars, so if you need/want a ride be at The Burrow by 10.
Harry
Draco emerged looking grim, but smiled at the sight of her. The emotions quickly sealed behind locked doors, it was something she continued to hate.
"My dad's sending a car with my school stuff over to bring me to Kingscross."
"Okay," Hermione replied, a pang of longing already hitting her. "I'm going to miss you…To miss this," she said softly, the tears that had long been held in threatening to spill over.
"Me too…" he said, but his eyes were emotionless, Hermione felt betrayed for some reason.
"Come here with me during spring break? Please Draco," she asked softly. She waited…He finally nodded and swept her into a hug, she kissed him softly. They both heard the car horn outside, Hermione wished he could just ignore it.
"I'll send an owl sometime…" he said, sounding slightly uncaring. She doubted if he'd remember her once he was back at school, what was a summer fling to someone who could have whoever he wanted?
He picked up his cloak and let himself out. She walked to the window and pulled the drape back a little. His father emerged from the car and she could see his lips moving, probably yelling. Draco's reply was short, and looked clipped from a distance. His eyes snapped to the house. She could feel an intense pan of hate and pain. She closed her eyes and memories poured forth. They showed a young boy cowering in a corner during a shouting match between parents. A slightly older boy cowering…and crying under a rain of blows. She opened her eyes. Lucius' mouth was moving again, Draco interrupted and pointed into the car. Lucius raised his hand as if to slap Draco, when Draco pointed to the drawn drapes. Lucius conceded and they climbed into the car, it drove off promptly. Hermione sighed, she had no doubt that Draco had no clue what she'd seen.
"Isabella?" she called. The house elf moved forward from the shadows behind her. "Where's my trunk?" she asked softly.
"By the fireplace Miss Hermione."
"Thank-you Isabella…" Impulsively she bent to hug the house elf who looked astonished, and blindly followed Hermione into the Living Room.
"Maria made Miss Hermione sandwiches for the ride," Isabella squeaked as Hermione stepped into the fireplace. She threw down the small handful of floo powder she had and nodded as she grabbed hold of her trunk and the cage Archimedes was in.
"The Burrow," she called loudly. Green flames encircled her and she stepped out moments later, in the fireplace of The Burrow. Ron and Harry were packing their trunks and checking them over one last time. Ron jumped visibly but Harry looked unperturbed.
"Right on time," he said checking his watch.
"Hi Hermione," Ron said softly, looking her over. After a month in California her body was still a deep tan. "I'm sorry about you parents."
"Which ones?" she asked in reply. She'd carefully locked away her grief using a pensive potion to relieve her wild emotions. Draco, with the help of Maria, had made her a case to carry it in, it was the reason he had excused himself for an entire afternoon. Ron looked confused.
"Which…ones…?" he asked, a perplexed look stuck on his face. Hermione choked back a laugh.
"Hermione's real parents were Lucia and Michael Ravenclaw you dope," Harry said, hitting Ron lightly.
"Holy shit! You're the one they've been preaching about lately?" he exclaimed.
"Yeah…It was in the Prophet. That I'd reclaimed the estate." Harry closed and locked his trunk and walked to Hermione, hugging her tightly. Hermione saw Ron's face, he had a look of both jealousy and relief.
"The ministry's sending cars. Harry pulled some strings," Ron clarified for Hermione.
"Moody pulled some strings," Harry corrected.
"Same difference. You ask, he does…He has a soft spot for you Harry."
"Lupin's coming back," Harry said, abruptly changing the subject.
"Really? Wow, that's awesome…I haven't seen anyone since June," she added wistfully.
"RON! FAYE'S HERE!" Ginny shouted from the kitchen. Faye appeared in the doorway, a hawk of some sort resting on her shoulder. Her waist length blonde hair ended in black dyed tips. She was dressed in baggy black cargo pants and a black top. The top was a band shirt, from a concert in the states, a Simple Plan concert. Hermione was genuinely surprised. No one at Hogwarts dressed like that. Ron smiled and gave Faye a hug, kissing her lightly on the cheek. Hermione couldn't believe what she was seeing, was this the same Ron she'd left in June?
"Hermione G-…Ravenclaw," she said extending her hand to Faye.
"Faye Lamarre," Faye replied, and with a smile shook Hermione's extended hand. "So you'd be the heiress The Prophet has been talking about." She smiled suddenly, her eyes glittering in excitement. "How's Jewel?" she asked, her voice dancing with glee.
"She's good. Pregnant…How do you know about her?" Hermione asked, puzzled. Faye's smile faded a bit.
"She was my mom's show mare's foal. I remember my mom training her then she was given to your parents as a gift…It was five years after Lucia passed away, but my mom said that it was a gift worth giving. She never was shown then? She was such a wonderful horse…" Faye finished, obviously downcast the mare had never shown.
"She's a sweet mare. Dean thought it best she was bred…I would've stopped it if I'd known…" Faye shrugged.
"Her foal should be in the ribbons…At least we can look forward to that," she added with a grin, and Hermione matched it. Ron and Harry looked lost. The girls left them in the dark.
"Cars are here!" Molly Weasley called from somewhere close by. Harry grabbed Hermione's trunk and she carried Archimedes cage, carefully following Ron and Faye.
"Oh hello Hermione. Good to see you again. Have a good school year. I have to get back to Padfoot's…" Molly said softly, almost under her breath. Obviously Faye didn't know about The Order. Hermione saw a muscle tighten in Harry's cheek at the mention of his late godfather. Otherwise, he ignored the mention , and loaded the trunks into the car. Mrs. Weasley emerged from the house, looking as if she'd forgotten her hurry to return to the Order. In her arms was a light gray and black cat, heavy with kittens.
"Crookshanks wouldn't leave. This is his girlfriend however, she needs looking after. The kittens are due any day now…No one has time over there…" Hermione nodded and scooped the cat into her own arms. Unlike Crookshanks, this cat loved cuddling and curled closely to her, purring the entire time. She smiled and idly pet her. Ron hugged Mrs. Weasley and climbed into the car after Faye. Hermione accepts a hug and she and Ginny piled into the car. Harry and Molly spook for a second, and finally he hugged her, the only girl he'd ever known.
The ride to Kingscross was made in a comfortable silence. They entered the station talking about summer and classes. On the train Hermione shared her sandwiches with the others, but spent the ride sleeping…She didn't want to talk about her parents, or her estate. Or the beautiful creatures she'd left behind. That could wait, there was an entire school year to piece together the riddles she'd been left with, and she didn't want to share them with Ron and Harry…What time she wasn't sleeping she spent talking to Faye about horses. Different shows they'd entered, and how judges could be biased. They became fast friends in just a short time.
The next morning was a flurry of activity. Isabella insisted on packing and checking Hermione's trunk, so bored and unneeded Hermione retreated to the barn. She decided to ride Sky one more time before school began. She promised Dan she'd be back for Christmas.
"I was wondering if there's anyway we can have an indoor arena built?" Hermione said, she'd been contemplating it since she'd seen the grounds lacked one, and the idea of not riding at Christmas, when she had horses at her disposal, was not one she wanted to face. Dean shrugged.
"We can try, anything is possible when you put your mind to it."
"Will you see if you can find a carpenter willing to take on a project this late in the year? You can owl me when you do and I'll send a check from my muggle account."
"Muggle…?" he said slowly, looking unsure.
"I don't want any magic in a riding arena…It could interfere. You can hire several if it'll get the job done sooner…" She said, sure of herself. She'd mulled over it for a while the night before, and decided that she might as well go for it.
"Any other instructions?" he questioned, after promising he would look into it as soon as possible.
"Keep doing whatever you've been doing for the past sixteen years." She smiled and surprised him by throwing her arms around him. "Thanks for everything Dean," he chuckled and hugged her tightly.
"Have a good school year."
"I'll be back for Christmas. We'll have a feast. I'll start sending owls in early December about it."
"Just like old times…Off with you," she smiled all the way to the house.
Draco was kneeling in front of the fireplace and Hermione presumed he was talking to someone. She sat and patiently waited, glancing around the room. She noticed Archimedes, perching on the back of a chair, and held out her arm clicking her tongue softly. It was a note from Harry.
Hermione,
The ministry's sending cars, so if you need/want a ride be at The Burrow by 10.
Harry
Draco emerged looking grim, but smiled at the sight of her. The emotions quickly sealed behind locked doors, it was something she continued to hate.
"My dad's sending a car with my school stuff over to bring me to Kingscross."
"Okay," Hermione replied, a pang of longing already hitting her. "I'm going to miss you…To miss this," she said softly, the tears that had long been held in threatening to spill over.
"Me too…" he said, but his eyes were emotionless, Hermione felt betrayed for some reason.
"Come here with me during spring break? Please Draco," she asked softly. She waited…He finally nodded and swept her into a hug, she kissed him softly. They both heard the car horn outside, Hermione wished he could just ignore it.
"I'll send an owl sometime…" he said, sounding slightly uncaring. She doubted if he'd remember her once he was back at school, what was a summer fling to someone who could have whoever he wanted?
He picked up his cloak and let himself out. She walked to the window and pulled the drape back a little. His father emerged from the car and she could see his lips moving, probably yelling. Draco's reply was short, and looked clipped from a distance. His eyes snapped to the house. She could feel an intense pan of hate and pain. She closed her eyes and memories poured forth. They showed a young boy cowering in a corner during a shouting match between parents. A slightly older boy cowering…and crying under a rain of blows. She opened her eyes. Lucius' mouth was moving again, Draco interrupted and pointed into the car. Lucius raised his hand as if to slap Draco, when Draco pointed to the drawn drapes. Lucius conceded and they climbed into the car, it drove off promptly. Hermione sighed, she had no doubt that Draco had no clue what she'd seen.
"Isabella?" she called. The house elf moved forward from the shadows behind her. "Where's my trunk?" she asked softly.
"By the fireplace Miss Hermione."
"Thank-you Isabella…" Impulsively she bent to hug the house elf who looked astonished, and blindly followed Hermione into the Living Room.
"Maria made Miss Hermione sandwiches for the ride," Isabella squeaked as Hermione stepped into the fireplace. She threw down the small handful of floo powder she had and nodded as she grabbed hold of her trunk and the cage Archimedes was in.
"The Burrow," she called loudly. Green flames encircled her and she stepped out moments later, in the fireplace of The Burrow. Ron and Harry were packing their trunks and checking them over one last time. Ron jumped visibly but Harry looked unperturbed.
"Right on time," he said checking his watch.
"Hi Hermione," Ron said softly, looking her over. After a month in California her body was still a deep tan. "I'm sorry about you parents."
"Which ones?" she asked in reply. She'd carefully locked away her grief using a pensive potion to relieve her wild emotions. Draco, with the help of Maria, had made her a case to carry it in, it was the reason he had excused himself for an entire afternoon. Ron looked confused.
"Which…ones…?" he asked, a perplexed look stuck on his face. Hermione choked back a laugh.
"Hermione's real parents were Lucia and Michael Ravenclaw you dope," Harry said, hitting Ron lightly.
"Holy shit! You're the one they've been preaching about lately?" he exclaimed.
"Yeah…It was in the Prophet. That I'd reclaimed the estate." Harry closed and locked his trunk and walked to Hermione, hugging her tightly. Hermione saw Ron's face, he had a look of both jealousy and relief.
"The ministry's sending cars. Harry pulled some strings," Ron clarified for Hermione.
"Moody pulled some strings," Harry corrected.
"Same difference. You ask, he does…He has a soft spot for you Harry."
"Lupin's coming back," Harry said, abruptly changing the subject.
"Really? Wow, that's awesome…I haven't seen anyone since June," she added wistfully.
"RON! FAYE'S HERE!" Ginny shouted from the kitchen. Faye appeared in the doorway, a hawk of some sort resting on her shoulder. Her waist length blonde hair ended in black dyed tips. She was dressed in baggy black cargo pants and a black top. The top was a band shirt, from a concert in the states, a Simple Plan concert. Hermione was genuinely surprised. No one at Hogwarts dressed like that. Ron smiled and gave Faye a hug, kissing her lightly on the cheek. Hermione couldn't believe what she was seeing, was this the same Ron she'd left in June?
"Hermione G-…Ravenclaw," she said extending her hand to Faye.
"Faye Lamarre," Faye replied, and with a smile shook Hermione's extended hand. "So you'd be the heiress The Prophet has been talking about." She smiled suddenly, her eyes glittering in excitement. "How's Jewel?" she asked, her voice dancing with glee.
"She's good. Pregnant…How do you know about her?" Hermione asked, puzzled. Faye's smile faded a bit.
"She was my mom's show mare's foal. I remember my mom training her then she was given to your parents as a gift…It was five years after Lucia passed away, but my mom said that it was a gift worth giving. She never was shown then? She was such a wonderful horse…" Faye finished, obviously downcast the mare had never shown.
"She's a sweet mare. Dean thought it best she was bred…I would've stopped it if I'd known…" Faye shrugged.
"Her foal should be in the ribbons…At least we can look forward to that," she added with a grin, and Hermione matched it. Ron and Harry looked lost. The girls left them in the dark.
"Cars are here!" Molly Weasley called from somewhere close by. Harry grabbed Hermione's trunk and she carried Archimedes cage, carefully following Ron and Faye.
"Oh hello Hermione. Good to see you again. Have a good school year. I have to get back to Padfoot's…" Molly said softly, almost under her breath. Obviously Faye didn't know about The Order. Hermione saw a muscle tighten in Harry's cheek at the mention of his late godfather. Otherwise, he ignored the mention , and loaded the trunks into the car. Mrs. Weasley emerged from the house, looking as if she'd forgotten her hurry to return to the Order. In her arms was a light gray and black cat, heavy with kittens.
"Crookshanks wouldn't leave. This is his girlfriend however, she needs looking after. The kittens are due any day now…No one has time over there…" Hermione nodded and scooped the cat into her own arms. Unlike Crookshanks, this cat loved cuddling and curled closely to her, purring the entire time. She smiled and idly pet her. Ron hugged Mrs. Weasley and climbed into the car after Faye. Hermione accepts a hug and she and Ginny piled into the car. Harry and Molly spook for a second, and finally he hugged her, the only girl he'd ever known.
The ride to Kingscross was made in a comfortable silence. They entered the station talking about summer and classes. On the train Hermione shared her sandwiches with the others, but spent the ride sleeping…She didn't want to talk about her parents, or her estate. Or the beautiful creatures she'd left behind. That could wait, there was an entire school year to piece together the riddles she'd been left with, and she didn't want to share them with Ron and Harry…What time she wasn't sleeping she spent talking to Faye about horses. Different shows they'd entered, and how judges could be biased. They became fast friends in just a short time.