Disclaimer: I own nothing if I did you wouldn't be reading this story.
Here is your monthly update I hope you enjoy it and answers some of the questions you have. I think I have found a beta so you might be getting the chapters sooner than once a month! Also keep an eye out for two new stories that should be posted in the next month or two.
Also I just wanted to thank everyone for your reviews it makes me a happy writter :)
Chapter Four
Hermione made her way quickly down the sidewalk leading to the Leaky Cauldron. She could not wait to get to the pub, Fred and Viktor had been acting weird since she got back from the bathroom and now they were following her gloomily. She just had a feeling that as soon as she got to that damn pub that everything would be explained, or at the very least a few drinks might change their mood.
She stopped in front of the pub looking at the grimy looking sign, she didn't notice it earlier but it looked like smoke was actually raising out of the cauldron, but that was impossible it had to be trick or the angle of the light or something like that. She placed her hand on the door pushing it open and was about to step inside when Fred dashed in front her blocking the entrance for a minute before letting her in.
"Fred what was that all about," she said angrily raising her hand to smack Fred in the arm again before she remembered her promise not to hit him earlier.
"Sorry I uh," he stammered, "I thought you were holding the door open for me?" he offered.
"Can we please leave the doorway" Viktor snapped making his way into the pub. Within seconds he had found the table in the back corner where Harry and Ginny were currently sitting at and was already embracing Harry in a friendly hug before Hermione and Fred moved to join him.
"Hermione you didn't tell me that the friend you were going to meet was Viktor Krum." Harry said with faux excitement.
"Yes, Harry and I used to play football together, but I was always the better player," Viktor grinned giving Harry a friendly pat on the back.
"If that's what helps you sleep at night Krum" Harry joked. "Hermione I don't think you met Ginny, my girlfriend, and Fred's sister." Harry said motioning to Ginny.
"Hello it's nice to meet you Ginny" Hermione said giving a polite nod before taking the center chair against the wall.
"Well I was just about to go to the bar to get a drink do any of you want anything?" Harry asked a hint of nervousness evident in his voice.
"I'll take a pint of whatever is good," Viktor replied.
"A glass of red wine if you don't mind," Hermione added as she started rummaging around her bag for a few pounds to give Harry.
"Your money is no good here Hermione, I will get your drinks," Harry said before Hermione could hand him the 10 pound note she held in her hand. "Fred you want anything?"
"I'll go with you," Fred offered "you can't carry five drinks by yourself."
"I'll go too, let the girls have their girl talk," Viktor announced rushing to follow the pair to the bar.
"If I didn't know any better I'd say that they are trying to avoid us," Ginny commented as she watched the three men make their way up to the bar.
"It's the men's version of girl talk, but instead of talking about men and clothes their talking about boobs and sports," Hermione added giggling. "I have a male roommate I have seen it plenty of times."
"Speaking of boys. How was my brother all afternoon? If he was anything but a gentleman I will hurt him," she threatened jokingly.
"He was gentleman for the most part. Although he has been acting strangely since he we got to the restaurant."
"That's Fred for you. He means no harm he sometimes doesn't know how to act around women," Ginny reasoned remembering exactly how he invited Angelina to the Yule Ball in their 5th year. "So how do you know Viktor? Are you two dating?" she asked her voice rose with interest.
Hermione blushed deeply shaking her head, "No were not dating. We used to date when we first met but with him always being away for games it got a little difficult. We are just friends now." she said shyly. "We actually met in a pub after his team lost a big match."
"Oh like you met Fred," Ginny said laughing.
"Yes like I met Fred and Harry and yourself," she said realizing the repetition in her life. "I don't mean to seem nosey. But do you or Harry work here? It seems like you have been here all day, and Harry does seem to know a lot of people here," she asked apprehensively hoping not to offend her new friend.
Ginny laughed at the older girls comment, "No we don't work here, but we spend a lot of time here since it's within walking distance of a few of our friend's jobs and they have good food. Harry works as police officer of sorts and he's quite popular where we're from. I am in the same field as Viktor," she said hoping she didn't just blow Viktor's cover. She wasn't quite sure what sport Viktor told her he played and didn't want to make her suspicious.
"That sounds fun. I have never been to a professional football game, I have always wanted to go but Viktor is never able to get me a ticket his team is very popular from what I hear."
"Well maybe if you stick around for a while I can get you tickets to see me play. I'm not nearly as good as Viktor but the games are usually fun from the stands. At least that's what Harry tells me."
"Oh that would be wonderful!"
"Ladies look who I found," Harry boasted as he made his way back to the table a pint in each hand for Ginny and himself. Fred and Viktor were following Harry each with a pint in their hands the latter with Hermione's glass of wine, behind them tall man with shaggy dark haired man who appeared to be in his late thirties.
"Oh Harry is that your father?" Hermione asked.
The man laughed picking up Hermione's hand and placing a kiss on it. "My dear lady do I really look old enough to be his father?" he questioned her with a sly grin. "I am Harry's much younger godfather, Sirius Black at your service."
"Sirius stop hitting on the poor girl we've only just met her and I rather like her." Ginny growled taking her pint from Harry as he took the chair next to her.
"I do apologize my dear if I had offended you I mean no harm," Sirius cooed taking the chair next to Harry.
"No harm was done Sirius. But for future reference I prefer my men a little closer to my own age," Hermione smirked as she received a few laughs from the table.
"Ouch" Fred snickered as squeezed behind Viktor and Hermione's chair to take the empty chair on her right hand side sandwiching Hermione between himself and Viktor.
"Just so you know the younger ladies love my charm. Just the other day I caught Ginny and Luna talking about my devilishly good looks," Sirius pouted.
Ginny nearly spit of her drink before bursting out into laughter, "oh Sirius. Only in your dreams did Luna and I have that conversation, I am very happy with Harry here and you're not really Luna's type."
"Yea we'll I'll prove you wrong" Sirius grumbled crossing his arms over his chest sulking in his seat.
"So what were you ladies talking about while we were gone?" Viktor asked.
"Ginny offered to get me tickets to see her play football," Hermione replied excitedly, she had seen a few of her friends play in secondary and Uni but she had never seen a professional game and was very excited about it.
"Really Ginny?" Harry questioned.
"Yes we'll I said only if she plans on sticking around. I don't give tickets away to just anyone." Ginny replied defensively.
"That's ok I won't mind sharing the VIP box with her." Harry said with a sly grin that had Ginny's eyes bulge with excitement as she bit her lip to keep quite. "Are you free on Thursday Hermione? Gin has a game against Ireland and from what I hear it is going to be a good one."
"You must come to the game" Ginny chirped with excitement bouncing in her seat like a child who was just given candy.
Hermione smiled at the excited red-head, "I think I can make it. I don't have classes next week since it is Easter holiday."
"Oh that is great, Luna can come too that way you have another girl in the box with you, oh and after…" the red head began.
"Don't mind her, she doesn't have many female friends, just Luna really," Fred whispered in Hermione's ear as Ginny went on about the thing they should do before the game on Thursday.
"That's fine, I should be used to it by now she actually reminds me of my flat mate a little," she explained.
"There is something I really should explain to you before the game on Thursday though, you see Ginny doesn't really play football, really neither does Viktor. Although from what I hear it is a lot like football, but with brooms," Fred started.
"Do they use the brooms like sticks like they do in hockey?" Hermione asked trying to imagine the sport in her mind.
"Not quite you see they use the brooms to fly," he explained.
"How on earth do they do that?" she asked a little louder than normal bring the attention from the previously chatting table to the duo.
The rest of the table sat in silence, with the exception of a snicker soon followed by a cry of pain coming from Sirius. None of them wanted to say a word they were all a little afraid to see what her unharnessed magic could do. It was after all Fred who brought this young witch to the group he needed to be the one who told her about magic, or at least that was what Harry had convinced Fred of at the bar.
"Um well you see they use magic," he spoke confidently.
"Oh please Fred you really expect me to believe that your sister and Viktor play a sport in which they fly around on brooms using magic."
"Yes?"
"Honestly Fred I thought you would be a little more convincing than that. You do run a joke store after all."
"Yes I do and I do expect you to believe it because it is true. We all have magic and can fly on brooms, even you."
Hermione glared at the red-head sitting next to her, "you know it is not very nice to make fun of me just because I am new to your little clique."
"I am not making fun of you Hermione I swear, you are a witch you have magical powers, you can fly on a broom if you want to."
"That's it I've had enough I am going home, it was nice meeting you all. And I'm sorry Ginny I don't think I will be making it to that football game on Thursday," she said as politely as she could as she tried to push Viktor out of the way so she could leave.
"Wait Hermione I can prove it watch," Fred said pulling out his wand and waving it over a plate as it quickly transformed into a bouquet of flowers.
"Don't think I will be fooled by silly flowers. That is just some magic trick any child could buy in any joke shop in London. Now Viktor let me leave," she growled giving the silent Bulgarian a shove.
"No Hermione. Fred is telling the truth, you have known me for many years and it is finally time for me to tell you the truth. I am a wizard Hermione and I don't play football I play Quidittch"
"You are all nuts!" she shrieked finally giving up on getting Viktor to move and started to climb over him and making her way to the exit.
"Hermione!" Sirius called making her turn around in an angry huff just in time to see Sirius's form shifting to that of a large black dog.
Her jaw dropped at she stared at the spot that Sirius was just standing. Cautiously she made her way over to the dog patting it on its head.
Harry made his way over to the pair "Hermione listen to us. Has anything happened to you that you can't explain?" Harry asked softly.
Hermione nodded slowly as her hands continued to scratch the dog's head.
"Have you been having problems with electronics?"
She nodded again with a little more enthusiasm.
"Have you been having strange dreams that may or may not involve me and another red head" he asked a little more cautiously than the other two questions.
Hermione sat there in silence wracking her brain trying to remember the dreams she had been having the last few months. The one where she was in front of a castle and there was what she thought to be fireworks being shot off at every angle, and standing there next to her was Harry and the other boy he mentioned.
"Yes, but how did you know."
"I've been having the same dreams. There is so much you need to know but right now I need you to believe me when I say you are in fact a witch and a very powerful one if the prophecy is correct."
"There is a prophecy about me?"
"Yes but that isn't really something I can explain here or now. Do you believe us?"
"I… I… but that means you have been lying to me the entire time." She growled storming over to Viktor.
"Yes but it was for your own good," he replied defensively, "I did not know you were a witch."
"And you" she said bring her attention to Fred. "Were you told to follow me today, to make sure I made it back here?"
"Hermione it wasn't like that," he whimpered cowering in the corner of the table from the angry witch.
"Yea sure it wasn't. And what if I don't want to be a witch what if I enjoy my life the way it is."
"It's not that simple Hermione," Harry tried to explain.
"You do not make that decision for me," Hermione snapped as she stormed out the door in huff followed by Sirius in dog form.
"Do you think I should…" Fred started but Harry just shook his head.
"No I need to deal with this" he stated making his way out the door that the angry witch just made her way out of.
He didn't need to go far to find Hermione she seemed to have made herself comfortable on the sidewalk outside of the building with Padfoot curled up next to her, her hands scratching his ears comfortingly.
"I wouldn't scratch his belly if I were you" he joked as he sat on the side walk next to her.
"What do you want Harry?"
"I just want to talk"
"About what Harry my dreams? That dream that you mentioned earlier that was more like a nightmare, everywhere I looked there was death and destruction. It would leave me feeling so depressed for days after. If that is what being a witch is about I don't want to be one."
"I can't promise you that there won't be death and destruction in your life if you choose to be a witch, but there is so much more to it than that. There is so much you need to know but now is not the time, please just come back inside."
"Why should I believe you? Why should I believe any of you when you all have been lying to me since we've met."
"I know that magic is not always as glamorous as it seems in books and movies but there are so many amazing things in the magical world. Just give us a second chance come inside you can see magic isn't as bad as your dreams."
"I can't I really should get home my flat mates are probably worried about me already."
"Just come inside for a few minutes there are some people you should meet. After that Ginny can take you home, I'm sure she will love to tell you all about the fun parts of being a witch."
"I guess but I really can't stay more than ten minutes"
"Great, trust me Hermione you won't regret this" Harry said taking her hand and leading her back into the Leaky Cauldron.
Hermione and Harry returned to a slightly larger table then when they had left, Ginny Fred and Sirius were joined by a man and woman about Sirius age and an old man with a long white beard with half-moon spectacles.
"Hermione I would like you to meet Albus Dumbledore, he is the Headmaster at Hogwarts school, this is my mother Lily Potter, and Remus Lupin he is an old family friend." Harry said indicating to each person as he introduced them. Albus, Lily and Remus each said a polite hello after their introduction.
"It is nice to meet all of you" she said meekly before noticing someone was missing. "Where is Viktor?" she asked her anger still a little evident when she spoke his name.
"He left. He thought it would be best you seemed more than a little angry with him." Fred said
"It was for the best there are things we must discuss with you that he is not involved in" Dumbledore said in a dignified manner. "Please Miss Granger have a seat."
"I know you said you can only stay for a few minutes. I am sure you have millions of questions you have to ask, and there is so much more you need to know about our world and yourself. But now is not the time or the place. Well professor Dumbledore will explain things so much better than I can."
"Thank you Harry." Dumbledore said with a polite nod. "Miss Granger I must say you are quite the anomaly in our world. Most young witches and wizards come into their full powers at age eleven; at that time they will receive a letter offering them a chance to attend Hogwarts. At Hogwarts each student is trained in various magical subjects such as Charms, Transfiguration, Potions and History of Magic just to name a few. You though did not appear to come into your magic until age twenty which I cannot recall happening in my life time, not to say that it has never happened before." Dumbledore explained
"So what does that mean about me?"
"Nothing my dear, if my tests are correct it appears that you are a very powerful witch. And if trained correctly not a witch anyone would want to mess with" Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eyes.
"So does this mean that I will go to Hogwarts to get my training? What about University? And my parents what do I tell them?"
"I don't think Hogwarts would be the best choice for you right now, I have actually gathered a group of well-trained witches and wizards to train you. I crash course on magic you could say. Lily, Remus and Sirius have each taken turns teaching at Hogwarts and will help tutor you, along with a few other teachers from Hogwarts that you will meet tomorrow. Now that brings me to tomorrow, Ginny and Lily kindly offered to take you into Diagon Ally to show you around and help you pick up some of the supplies and books you will be needing as well as your wand. After which they will take you to the Order of the Phoenix Head Quarters, to begin your education." Dumbledore finished
Hermione just nodded trying to wrap her head around everything she was just told, she was still trying to believe that witches and wizards actually existed let alone the fact that she was one.
"With all of that settled I hope you don't mind me taking my leave I do have a school to run. It was very nice meeting you Miss Granger and I will be seeing you tomorrow." Dumbledore said with a polite nod before heading out a door Hermione wasn't aware existed until he walked through it.
"How will I get to Diagon Ally tomorrow?" she finally asked.
"Ginny offered to pick you up," Harry explained.
"Harry said I can borrow his BMW to pick you up" Ginny smirked.
Harry appeared to turn an odd shade of purple at Ginny's comment "It's his baby he doesn't let anyone drive it" Ginny whispered to Hermione.
Hermione laughed "you do know how to drive right?" she asked nervously.
"Yea my Dad taught me on his Ford Anglia, I got my license when I let Hogwarts, but Harry doesn't trust me enough to drive his precious baby."
"The Ford Anglia wasn't that the car the Harry and Ron drove into the Whomping Willow their second year." Sirius asked innocently.
"Yes I think it was." Lily said matter-of-factly. "You know I still have to hear about it from Pomona, you two did some real damage to that tree," she scolded.
Harry cowered in his seat quickly turning a bright shade of red.
"Oh I must hear this story," Hermione said excitedly.
"That is for another time. Didn't you say you had to be going soon?" Harry asked.
"I'm sure they won't mind me staying out a bit later I have so many questions. Would any of you mind taking me home in a little while? My flat mate Everett was supposed to pick me up from the tube station but I'm sure he will be either drunk or passed out by the time I get home."
"I can do it, if Harry will let me borrow his car. Besides it will be easier to find your flat if I know where I'm going."
"Fine" Harry groaned handing Ginny his keys, "but we are not telling the flying Anglia story."
"Yes!" Ginny shouted doing a little dance in her seat.
"Lily, Remus what do you teach at Hogwarts? Mr. Dumbledore mentioned something about you two training me."
"We teach Defense against the Dark Arts. There is a rumor of a curse on the position and Dumbledore has not been able to keep anyone in the position for over a year, so we rotate with another professor, as not to tempt fate." Remus explained
"Sirius here taught the position for a year but anytime he got in front of the class he broke out into hives," Lily added with a laugh.
"You try teaching the Weasley twins" Sirius screeched. "Besides I am more of a doer than a teacher."
"I will take that as a compliment," Fred grinned.
"What do you do Sirius? I know Fred mentioned something about you owning a joke store with them but that has nothing to do with defense, unless those are some wicked pranks."
"They can be quite wicked sometimes," Remus groaned remembering his time as a test subject.
"I am more of a financial backer for Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, and I help them out with product development from time to time. I mainly work as an Auror with Harry here, who would be the equivalent to what you call police officers," Sirius explained.
"And Ginny I am going to assume that you are not a football player?"
"Is that what Viktor told you he did?" Ginny laughed, "no I don't. I play a sport called Quidditch it is similar to football but played on brooms as Fred had mentioned. It is a little more complicated than that but it is easier to explain when you have seen the game. I wasn't lying when I said you could come to one of my games. If your free next week I have a game Thursday, I'm sure someone can teach you the basics at the game."
"I would love to go" Hermione said excitedly.
"Great I will make sure to have a few tickets put aside."
"So witches really do fly on brooms? Do you wear pointy hats too? And own cats? What about owls Viktor used to send me letters by an owl, I used to think it was a little strange but does that have anything to do with being a witch?" Hermione rambled.
"Slow down little lady one question at a time" Sirius laughed.
"Yup, but not the everyday kitchen broom you see they are brooms specially made for flying." Harry explained. "You will actually get to see some tomorrow when you go shopping and one of us will actually be teaching you how to fly."
"What if I don't want to learn how to fly?" she asked nervously.
"Trust me it is a lot of fun you won't ever want to get down," Ginny offered.
"As for the pointy hats, we only wear them on special occasions, and rarely ever outside of school. Some witches and wizards own cats but they aren't necessary. I'm actually surprised Viktor would send you letters via owl without telling you he was a wizard. They are used primarily to send letters and packages in our world, an owl can always find the person the letter is intended for and is rarely ever intercepted." Remus explained.
"I am not too happy with Viktor at the moment. I can't believe he has been lying to me for seven years." Hermione growled.
"I'm sure he had his reasons Hermione. We aren't supposed to tell anyone about our world unless absolutely necessary," Lily clarified.
"So he didn't know I was a witch?"
"No he didn't. I doubt anyone even suspected you were a witch until you walked in here earlier today."
"How could walking into a pub make anyone suspect I am a witch?"
"This is a magical pub only those with magical cores or someone being escorted by someone magical can enter let alone see the pub. Behind those doors is the entrance to our world or a least part of it. We have many hidden entrances all around London." Remus
"I'm sorry I know I've been asking a lot of questions there is just so much to know." Hermione blushed.
"That is understandable this is a new world to you."
"What do I tell my parents?"
"Well that is up to you, most non-magical parents have everything explained to them before their child goes to school, mine were. But since you are older that choice is up to you."
"Can I tell my flat mates?"
"Unfortunately not, actually you really should come up with something to tell them on why you will be away for training in the next few months"
"Oh, what about my University I still have a few more weeks left in this term, and I am not the type to drop out."
"I think we can work around your school schedule for now." Remus added
"Hermione I think we should be going now it is half past 10 and we have an early morning tomorrow." Ginny said standing up from the table.
"Okay, well it was very nice meeting you all I am looking forward to tomorrow" Hermione said giving Lily, Sirius and Remus a brief hug purposely skipping over Fred. She was still a little angry with him for not telling her she was a witch sooner, she knew she was being silly but she had already thought of Fred as a friend and already he was betraying her trust.
"I will come with you girls" Harry said sticking his hand out for his car key.
"You know Harry I would really prefer Ginny to drive I haven't heard any stories of her crashing into trees" Hermione laughed as she watched Ginny stick her tongue out at her boyfriend in defeat.
"But it's my car" Harry wined.
"Grow up you said I could drive it" Ginny snapped "Come on Hermione you can sit up front with me Harry can pout in the back seat by himself."
Hermione smiled as she followed Ginny out of the pub. Who would have thought getting lost would have changed her life so much.