A Secret...
Chapter 4: The Diary of a Girl Passed
Wow!!!! 63 reviews on FF.net! And 33 on checkmated! That is 96 reviews! You guys make me feel so special! I have to thank Aoi Hoshi Chan on FF.net for her nice and long review. About the worry of this story going too fast, this chapter is a tad bit slower than the others.
And thanks to my ever helpful beta, Buckbeaky! Your advice has helped get me straight with my story, especially with my mistake about Hermione's eyes (which are brown not blue). Thanks so much for your help.
About the kiss scene, it is not supposed to be completely fluffy. It was just supposed to be a reunion of the two.
Disclaimer: I forgot it last chapter I do not own the wonderful characters JKR has thought up. I only use them for this story and have not rights to them.
The sun rays filtered through the floral curtains, and shed their light across the pink room as the dawn broke. One ray gently fell upon Hermione. Her sleeping body basked in it and she slowly awoke. A smile spread across her face as she took in the peacefulness of her room.
But her smile faltered when her eyes settled on the picture on her bedside table. Ron was hugging a laughing Hermione. The real Hermione couldn't stand the sight of seeing the two so happy together. She slammed the picture down and rolled over, as clear, salty, tear droplets threatened to overflow down her cheeks.
Her smile disappeared as Hermione thought about yesterday. She was a princess. A princess who has to have a prince. A princess who's near future involved having a child. But right then and there, Hermione decided to not have a child until she was of age.
'At 17, and not until then,' Hermione resolved quietly as she whispered to herself.
'Knock, Knock'
Hermione lay lifeless as she was not ready to face anyone yet. Anne slowly opened the door and crossed the threshold of the room and tiptoed towards the sleeping form of Hermione. Anne was scared after yesterday, and she had stayed up all night worrying about Hermione's future. Anne couldn't wait to be a grandmother, but she would have been happier if she could have waited a little longer and didn't have to rush into that role. But it looked like Hermione was going to have to rush into her role of being a mother.
'Hermione, sweetie? Are you awake yet? It's nine am,' Anne whispered to her daughter.
She noticed that Hermione's favourite picture was face down on her wooden bedside table. Anne also saw that Hermione was indeed awake as she could see Hermione's glistening brown eyes that were still shedding silent tears.
Hermione didn't stir as her mother tried to arouse her out of the false sleep she was putting on. She just chocked back a few tears and resumed the steady breathing of one asleep. Anne wanted to talk to Hermione about yesterday, but she was pretty sure that Hermione didn't want to talk to anyone.
'I, uh……, guess you are not up yet, but for when you do get up, here is a present for you. It is from your father and I,' Anne quietly told Hermione as she taped a small box to the top of a larger one and placed them both next to the upturned picture frame. They were both wrapped in shiny light blue wrapping paper and tied up with the silver ribbon. Anne left the room as quietly as she had entered.
Hermione rolled over and wiped the tears away from her eyes and let them settle on the two presents. She reached for the smaller one first, the one on the top, and slowly tugged the silver ribbon off from around it. The ribbon wrapping paper slid away to reveal a tiny silver box with a note intact with tape on the top.
To our dearest Hermione Jane,
You are certainly growing up, right in front of our eyes. We now know we cannot do everything we can to protect you, especially by trying to keep you here in the Muggle World as opposed to letting you go back to the Wizarding World. Yesterday proved that. We thought that if you were here, you would always be safe. But we realized yesterday that the safest place for you was Hogwarts, even if that means us giving you up again. We love you more than anything in the world. You are everything to both of us. You are our world.
All our love,
Mum & Dad
Hermione could feel another wave of tears on the verge of cascading down her cheeks, but she didn't stop them. Her parents had given up hope of keeping their daughter away from the place and people who understood her, and for the most part, cared for her. Anne and Eric had no idea how much this meant to her.
Inside the box was a locket. It was golden and in the shape of a heart. The locket contained only one thing: a tiny golden key behind a hinged grate door.
It intrigued Hermione as she could see the key and hear it rattling around inside the golden heart, but she could not get it out. When Hermione tried opening the door, the entire locket shook vigorously, causing Hermione's finger to vibrate. The vibration soon spread to her entire body, right down to her toes, until she finally let go.
Suspecting the locket was magical, Hermione almost went into her automatic reaction of trying every unlocking spell she knew, but luckily Hermione caught herself before she risked expulsion from the one place she was allowed to go.
Instead Hermione reached for her other present, this one larger but still wrapped in blue and tied in silver. Hermione quickly slid her fingers under the tape and pried it off. Once this paper too slid off, another note caught Hermione's eye. This one was folded up and had fallen out into her lap. Hermione slowly unfolded it to find another note from her parents.
Our darling Hermione,
After hearing the news about you future, we decided to get you a present that only you can read, see, and open, and one that would help you bear the pain you will undoubtedly bear in the near future. It is magical, but Dumbledore has checked it and assures us that you will be safe using it. Your locket is the only way to open it. Just place the heart in the impression on the front and the grate door will open, allowing you to take the key out. That key, and only that key, will allow you to open your present.
Enjoy sweetheart, and always remember that no matter what, we both love you
Mum & Dad
Even more tears fell down Hermione's cheek as she pulled her present out. It was a ruby red diary encrusted with a gold lock. There was an impression of a heart on the front and a tiny lock on the side. Hermione picked up the necklace that she had placed by where her mother had placed it originally. She placed the heart in the impression and heard a small click. The key had fallen out. Hermione picked it up and examined it closely. It was indeed a tiny key, but one with an intricate design on it. Hermione held it up to the light and saw a letter engraved on it. G. Hermione decided that it was time to open the diary.
The lock clicked immediately after Hermione only turned the key once, and she slowly opened the cover, reveling masses of parchment pages. They were all completely blank except for the date in the top right hand corner on the first page.
July 29th
Hermione picked up one of her quills that was on her desk and dipped into the ink bottle. She let the ink drop on the page while she thought of what to write.
Dear Diary,
My name is Hermione.
Hermione picked her up the quill. She wasn't sure of what to write next. When she finally had an idea, she lowered her quill once more, only to notice something below her writing.
Dear Hermione,
Please, I do have a name, not Diary. It is Alexandria or just Alex if you prefer.
This completely took Hermione by surprise. Someone was writing back to her! The last time she had known of a diary like this was the one Ginny possessed in her 1st year that then possessed her, in the form of the Dark Lord. Hermione quickly shut the diary and reread the note from her parents.
'It is magical, but Dumbledore has checked it and assures us that you will be safe using it.'
She slowly reopened the diary and answered the script that hadn't vanished from sight yet.
Alex
Who are you? Can you tell me? I will tell you about me if you will tell me who you are.
Hermione
Hermione (can I call you 'Mione? I mean, if that is okay with you)
I am a 16 year old girl who has been dead for 150 years. My spirit still haunts England. Oh how I do miss life! Especially Hogwarts!
Alex
Alex
I am 15, but almost 16. I do go to Hogwarts, with Harry Potter if you were wondering. He is actually one of my closest friends, believe it or not. You are a spirit? Wow! Why are you a spirit and not a ghost?
'Mione
'Mione
I am the spirit of a girl passed. I died more than 150 years ago, all because someone wanted my place, namely my little sister. She appeared innocent to everyone but me. I knew her for what she really was. But I am a spirit instead of a ghost because I only reside within this diary. But enough about me and more about you. You know THE Harry Potter? The one with the scar? The boy-who-lived?
A
Hermione still couldn't believe how famous Harry was, even ones long dead knew who he was. But Alex was helping her. All of her tears had disappeared, and a smile had reappeared on her face.
A
Yes that is him. And don't you go saying I'm lucky having him, because I don't. We are just friends, nothing more.
H
H
Then who do you have?
A
A
I can't have him anymore. I did have him for a short while and everything was bliss. But now, it has all changed. I must now be the Princess of the Wizarding Community in England.
H
Hermione knew that in order for her to understand it all, she had to be able to write it down.
H
Alex left a blank as if she couldn't write.
A
And that's not all. I must find a husband who is suitable for being a Prince and then I must bear his child, in order for the line to the throne ensured. But I am only 15, 16 in September! All because I am the last Granger-
But Hermione never got any further as Alex hurriedly interrupted her train of thought.
Granger? But that is my last name too!?!
Hermione was flabbergasted. Her diary not only held a girl about her age, but one who might understand all of this.
Were you one of the ones in line for the throne?
Yes, the last pureblood to be exact. When my sister killed me, just so she could take my place, her life became cursed. She found the love of her life, only to find out he was a Muggle. Her child was then a ½ blood, blood not clear enough to be a ruler. Everything from then on went down hill. Madeline died only two months after her daughter was born. Nothing ever went back to how it was when I was in line for the throne.
After Allyson's (my niece) birth and the nature of her child, the Grangers ceased to being a pureblood family. That was, until you. My Great-Uncle prophesied that one day another young girl, just like me would take her place in the throne. That is you.
Hermione couldn't say anything, or write anything. She just absorbed this new news in. Then she knew what to say.
Alex, I don't want to be Princess Hermione. I just want to be plain old Hermione. I want to have Ron, but now I can't. I have to have some upstanding young man who is suitable for being a Prince. Why can't I just go back to having to only worrying about tests and homework? Now I have to worry about marriage and having a child!
I know how you feel. As soon as I had finished my education, I was to marry the young man I had been betrothed to since 3! Then I was to have a child before I was 20, so I can see how you feel. But I never got that far, thanks to Madeline.
I am very sorry that you died. I truly am.
Hermione was about to write more, but then she heard another knock on her door. She hurriedly hid the diary under the covers and threw the pink comforter over herself.
'Huney? You must be awake now,' Anne whispered loudly as she re-entered the room. She walked over the Hermione's bed and sat down on it. Hermione felt the bed sink with the extra weight and felt her mother's hand on her leg.
'Hermione, I know you are awake, and you must get up. It is almost 10 now. We are traveling to Grimmauld Place at noon, so I need you to pack.'
Hermione rolled over and looked her mother straight in the eye. Anne could see that her eyes were bright red from crying and that she needed a hug to reassure her that whatever happened, her mother would by her side. Anne lent towards her and engulfed her precious daughter, the only one she had into a tight hug. She couldn't bear to see her baby in pain.
'Mum, I don't want to. I just want to be normal and not have to do any of this,' Hermione whispered to her mother as she buried her face into her mother's long, thick, blonde hair.
'I know sweetie. But there is nothing I can do about this. I didn't even know about any of this, until just now. Just remember that no matter what happens, your father and I love you and will understand whatever you choose to do. You don't have to do this you know,' Anne explained to her daughter.
'But if I don't, the Wizarding World will end up in more trouble. My magic can help protect it. And only I can do that,' Hermione looked crestfallen. 'Anyways, by doing this, I can help Harry defeat Voldemort. This will give Harry more protection and that is the best way I can help him.'
'But what about Ron?'
'What about him?'
''Mione, I'm not blind. I saw you two on the stairs yesterday and I even saw you run up the stairs after you caught his eye. Just because you have to be a princess, doesn't mean that he has to be exiled from your life,' Anne didn't want to see Hermione separated from the one she loved just because of some startling news.
'Mum, I have to marry a guy who can be a prince, not Ron. It has to be some famous guy who is perfect and has a perfect blood line. And rich. As much as I did love Ron, he can't be those things. I just know he can't,' Hermione looked even more crestfallen, at saying that her love for Ron was no longer real.
'Do you really believe that, or do you just hope that that is true so that you don't have to worry about him? No matter what you do, you will never be able to exile Ron out of your life,' Anne tried to explain to her daughter. Then in an effort to change the mood and so that they wouldn't miss the portkey, 'Hermione, you do really need to pack so that we can go to Grimmauld Place at noon. Your new clothes we brought on Saturday are in the bag in your closet. Make sure you have everything in your trunk to leave. We will most likely not be coming back before you leave for Hogwarts.'
Hermione nodded and finally got out of bed. The room was still dark as there were no lights on, so Anne turned them on as Hermione rubbed her eyes from the bright light.
'I am going to go downstairs and fix your breakfast, well more like brunch now. You just pack and I will come help you later,' Anne informed Hermione as she left the now bright room.
Hermione stood up and stretched. She picked up her necklace from under the covers where she had hidden it by her diary, and placed it around her neck. As soon as the cool golden chain touched her skin, it faded from view. Hermione could feel it, but not see it. It was the magic within the Muggle trinket that made her smile.
Hermione also pulled the diary out and placed in into her trunk. It was obviously something she felt she needed now. Other items that went into her trunk were her textbooks and her completed homework, and at last thought the magic picture by her bed. She placed in the trunk, still turned down from view.
She unhooked all of her clothes from the coat hangers in her closet and folded them into her trunk, including her school robes and her new clothes. But before she folded one outfit, she decided to wear it. It was a yellow knee-length skirt and a pink shirt that had yellow flowers on it to match the skirt. It reminded Hermione of her room and brought back memories of her childhood. They were memories she wanted to hold onto forever.
Hermione attempted brushing her hair, and after a few minutes, it was finally under control enough that she could pull it up into a low pony tail. Leaving her hair down in the summer had always made her feel hot and flustered, so the only way to avenge that was to pull her bushy brown hair up. Hermione looked up and caught her reflection in her mirror. Her brown eyes were red from crying and there were faint tear streaks down her cheeks, and her nose was slightly pink, but aside from that, Hermione looked just like she had yesterday morning, before everything changed.
There was another knock on the door and Hermione let her mother in. Anne held a tray adorned with eggs and bacon, a pancake, and a glass of milk. Hermione hadn't realized how hungry she was until right now. She dug in, and in no time, she had finished her meal.
'Are you packed?' Anne asked as she sat by Hermione, waiting for her to answer.
'Almost. The only things I need are in the washing machine downstairs,' Hermione finished up her breakfast. When at Hogwarts, she either charmed her clothes clean, or unknowingly let the house-elves clean them for her. But at home, Hermione had to use the washing machine and dryer. She didn't mind. At least this way, all she had to do was put it in a basket and give it to her mother.
'Oh, I have all those things packed in my suitcase, so you don't have to worry about that,' Anne smiled and looked down at her watch. 'It is ten past eleven. I'll send your father up to get your trunk, which will undoubtedly be heavy!'
Hermione smiled a genuine smile and it lit her entire face up, 'Yeah, it is!' Hermione hugged her mother once again, and Anne left the room afterwards, but instead of closing the door, she left it wide open.
Hermione latched her trunk close, and stood it upright so that it would be easier for her father to carry it. She saw that everything was in order, and walked out onto the balcony again, not sure of what was below it. Yesterday her eyes had held the sight of Lucius Malfoy torturing her parents. But today all she saw was Dumbledore, Harry, Remus, and her parents. She let out a sigh of relief. She had been scared that maybe Ron had been down there, but he wasn't, thankfully.
Dumbledore saw her, and Hermione's eyes locked with his. His eye twinkled at her and he looked back to Remus, with whom he had been talking to. Harry was standing off to the side alone. He noticed Dumbledore look up, and had followed the headmaster's gaze. His eyes too locked with Hermione's, which told Hermione that she had to go down. She couldn't keep stay away from everyone forever.
Hermione slowly walked down the arching stairs. When she finally reached the bottom, her shoes clicked the floor, announcing her entrance. Remus was the only one surprised, as Eric had too seen her, but they had not locked eyes.
Harry was the first one to approach her.
'Are you okay?' Harry smiled at her. She was his best friend, and he couldn't bear to think of how she felt right now.
'No, but I'll be okay,' Hermione smiled faintly. 'Where are the Weasley's?'
'They left last night. Remus and I stayed the night, after I had retrieved my things from the Dursleys. I had stayed with them long enough,' Harry explained to her.
'Oh. Are you coming with us to Grimmauld Place?' Hermione asked. Though she was glad Ron wasn't here, she was grateful Harry was as he could explain what had happened last night after she had run to her room.
'Yeah. The Weasleys will meet us there. I inherited the place over the summer, but I gave control of it to Dumbledore and Remus,' Harry looked sheepishly down.
'You inherited 12 Grimmauld Place?' Hermione was surprised, but at the same time she knew she shouldn't have been. 'When did that happen?'
'Last week. Sirius left most of his possessions to Remus and me. This included the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. Well, now it is kinda the House of Potter!' Harry smiled at her.
Hermione smiled back. Harry had matured this summer and now had control of his anger. This allowed him to happier a lot more, and it was sometimes infectious.
'Are you going to get rid of that portrait of Sirius's mother?'
'Yeah, and Kreacher.'
'Harry!'
'Hermione, remember what he did at the end of last year? He wanted me dead!'
'Okay, maybe you can get rid of him.'
'Hermione,' Harry rolled his eyes at her.
'Oh fine!'
'Harry, Hermione,' Dumbledore called them over. While Hermione and Harry had been talking, Eric had retrieved Hermione's trunk from upstairs. Everyone was ready to go now. Harry had his trunk, Remus was ready with his overnight bag, Eric and Anne had a trunk packed each, Hermione had hers, and Dumbledore didn't need one. 'It is time to go.'
He held out a ratty old book, and they all reached towards it. Hermione placed on finger on the book, and held tightly to her trunk with her other hand.
'5…….
……..4
3…….
……..2
1…….'
Hermione felt a pull somewhere behind her navel. She felt herself fly through the air, her shoulders rocking hard against Harry's to her right and her mother's to her left. Her right hand held onto her trunk with all her might, and her finger never left the book, until they landed, hard.
The portkey had transported them all into the kitchen. Hermione found her self on the ground next to Harry, who had fallen at last minute. Remus and Dumbledore stood, but Anne and Eric were sprawled on the floor. They had never traveled by portkey, but this was not going to be the last time.
Hermione stood with the help of Harry. Her trunk was still in one place, and hadn't sprung open on the impact of the floor as Harry's had. She helped him pick up his clothes, and soon his trunk was in order.
The kitchen had been empty when they arrived but now it filled up with all the Weasleys, Tonks, Kingsley, Moody and Mundungus.
Molly was the first one to pull Hermione into a tight hug.
'Oh, we were so worried about you yesterday! I am so glad you are alright!' Hermione didn't know what to say in return, so she just smiled.
Ginny too came up to her and hugged her. To her, Hermione could talk to. 'I need to talk to you,' Hermione whispered at the younger girl.
Ginny nodded and led Hermione out of the room, avoiding everyone that was in the room. They didn't even come near Ron, who was in the corner talking to Harry.
Hermione followed Ginny up the stairs, even though she knew where Ginny was leading her. It was to the room where she had spent almost all of her summer last year.
They finally arrived at the door, and they both entered. Hermione was surprised to see that the room was no longer black and dingy. It was now a light blue with yellow splashed onto it. The room held sunlight, and filled Hermione with happiness.
Ginny sat down on one of the twin beds. Hermione sat on the one across from her.
'So, you want to talk. About what?' Ginny smiled reassuringly.
Hermione knew she had to tell someone straight out, and Ginny was the only one.
'I am going to be a princess who has to bear a child.'
'I know.'
'What? How do you know?'
'My mum told me yesterday, when Dumbledore told you.'
'Does Ron know?' Hermione was scared of what Ginny would say.
'Yes.'
Before Hermione could respond, there was a knock on the door.
'Ginny, are you in there? If you are, can I come in?' It was Ron.
Ginny didn't know what to do so she mumbled a yes, before Hermione could stop her.
Next thing Hermione knew, Ron was opening the door and glancing her way.
Well, there you go! I think it was worth the wait, as it is the longest chapter I have ever written (13 pages)! I hope every one likes it. Chapter 5, hopefully, won't take this long. Problem is that I am not free every single minute, even though it is summer. I am on a swim team and I am also compacting Algebra, which takes up a lot of my time. My story is one of my top priorities, and I so type a little bit each day. So have no fear, this story will go on!
Enjoy Ch.4, and please review!
Miss Mione