hey everyone! thanks for all your awesome feedback!
also- thanks for being patient as i update! hope everyone had a great fourth of july!
-boots!
The Whomping Willow stretched its branches towards the cold gray sky, cutting through the clouds to let the sun in. Icicles hanging along the windows sparkled and danced with a still and quiet magic all their own.
Little shafts of sunlight shone through the red drapes and spread themselves across Hermione's heart shaped face. She slowly opened her eyes and stretched her arms over her head with a leisurely yawn. She sat up and cracked her back. After a night of fitful dreaming, she often had kinks to work out in the morning- and with all that was on Hermione's mind; last night's dreams had been quite fitful indeed. She couldn't remember every detail, but she was sure she remembered a certain Potion's Master had made an alarming appearance, yet somehow she had not been afraid of him in her dream. If only she could have that much courage to face him with in real life, perhaps detention would not be quite so ghastly.
"Mione!" Harry and Ron called in unison outside her door.
Hermione rolled her eyes and mumbled a terse reply.
"We've been waiting for an hour! Are you coming to breakfast?" Ron hollered.
"You go ahead, I'll be down shortly" she said, sliding off her bed and into her bathroom. It was nice to be Head Girl, she thought, as she turned the ornate shower knobs and stepped in for a pleasant warm wash.
Harry and Ron shoveled food into their mouths and Neville joined them in a rather heated discussion over, what else, Quidditch!
"I don't know Harry; I actually think Ravenclaw may win the Cup this year! Have you seen Cho in action lately? I caught one of their practices the other day and she's fierce!"
Harry raised an eyebrow at Neville's over zealous comment concerning the raven haired Ravenclaw.
"What I mean is that she's good…you know…" Neville chuckled nervously.
"Trust me Potter…. It's not Ravenclaw you have to worry about" a frigid voice slithered up behind them and sank its teeth into their conversation.
"Malfoy" Harry said with disregard.
"That's right Potter…you better just watch out for Slytherin this season" Draco spat a little as he said this and turned sharply to sit at the Slytherin table with Crabbe and Goyle following closely behind.
"Well…personally I think you're all wrong" Ron finally said with a smug smile.
"What are you going on about then?"
"Oh nothing…just that it's going to be Hufflepuff that takes the Cup, that's all."
Harry and Neville sat in silence for a minute before laughing so hard that Neville nearly squirted milk out of his nose.
"Sure- sure, laugh all you like…But I'm telling you…Sarah McMummers is going to be the turning tide for Hufflepuff, I saw her practicing and she's wicked fast!"
Seamus perked up at this statement "Who now? McMummers? Yeah- I hear she's fast alright…but I'm not too sure about her Quidditch skills!" All the boys laughed except Ron.
"You shut-up!"
"Hey- I'm just saying what I heard mate!"
"Well you heard wrong…she's very…"
"Good morning Weasley" Sarah smiled over her shoulder at him and continued to her own house table.
Nobody was laughing anymore. All were too focused on the look of panic that had spread across poor Ron's face.
"What on earth happened to Ron?" Hermione asked sitting down, "Someone put a petrificus curse on his face?"
"Well…someone definitely has him under a spell if that's what you mean" laughed Ginny, who was thoroughly enjoying the joke being made at her lovesick brother's expense.
Soon the Great Hall was buzzing with students eagerly awaiting their weekend trip into Hogsmeade. Clumps of girls giggled about which boys they would meet later on for tea at Madam Puddifoot's. Groups of first year boys schemed and planned which girls they would pull pranks on first after visiting Zonko's. Quidditch groupies discussed the newest brooms on the market and even the book minded students anxiously anticipated the new shipment of exotic quills that Scrivenshaft's was supposed to have recently received.
Harry and Ron were no exception, gathering their coats and chattering on about a fun day free of work. As the students filed out of the castle through the snowy courtyard, Harry turned to Hermione and pleaded with her to join them in town.
"I really do have a lot of work to do- but you two have fun. Bring me back a chocolate frog or something" she managed a soft smile and waved goodbye.
"Work, work, work…that girl's gonna think herself mad one day…" Ron's rant trailed off to an echo as he and Harry departed from view.
Hermione lingered in the doorway for a moment, watching light flecks of snow fall along the shoulders of a small statue of Pan in the courtyard. She felt a little bad about lying to her friends, but she resolved that the matter was entirely stressful and bizarre enough on its own without involving "tweedle dee" and "tweedle dum". She smirked a little and turned around to head back to Gryffindor Tower.
"Miss Granger?"
"Professor Snape" her face flushed "You gave me a start".
"Indeed. Why are you not in Hogsmeade with Potter and Weasley?"
"I'm…not feeling well…I just thought I'd stay in"
Severus studied the girl's face, his eyes catching her quivering bottom lip. She was lying; there was no doubt about that in his mind. But what was she hiding?
"Well…I do hope your ailment clears up in time for your detention…I will see you tonight at seven. Good day Miss Granger"
Hermione watched his tall dark figure vanish down the hallway.
"What could possibly make someone that bitter?" she huffed as she climbed the stairs to her room.
"Daigon Alley!" Hermione fluffed her hair, wiped the black floo powder off her perfect nose and exited the back room of Ollivander's. Clutching the envelope in her left hand, she sprinted down the street, expelling short hot breaths into the wintry air. Her cheeks were very flushed now and she adjusted her scarf to cover her nose and ear lobes better. As she approached Gringotts, she looked up at the white sky, and noticed a black crow lingering above the bank. She didn't care for crows and ever since Professor Trelawney had seen a crow's image in Hermione's tea cup, she had witnessed a curious abundance of "crow sightings" in the past week.
"Rubbish" she muttered under her breath.
Gringotts was busy today and Hermione suddenly felt very apprehensive about her reasons for being there. Perhaps the whole thing was some sort of sick joke. Perhaps it was a mistake…
"Can I help you young lady?" An older goblin with enormous eyes and a rather disturbing under bite glared up at her through his spectacles.
"Yes…I…I'm…my name is…"
"Well? What? Spit it out! We are very busy!"
"My name is Hermione Granger and I would like to have counsel with one Archibald Grout".
The little goblin's eyes widened and he looked as though his skin had paled a bit.
"Yes, lady…I am Archibald Grout. Please…step into my office"
Hermione bowed her head and followed him through two heavy gold doors at the back of the bank. Grout rummaged through desk for a minute before retrieving a large gold key which dangled from a small emerald emblem attached to the key ring.
"Follow me this way please…Miss…" the goblin stared at her face with a soft smile spreading across his leathery lips, "Granger" he finally said.
Hermione did as she was told and they made their way to the vaults. So many things were racing through her head. What was the truth? Who was this "mother"? And furthermore- why had her "muggle parents" never told her?
Once they reached the appropriate vault, Grout and Hermione disembarked from the small cart and stood before a large door, baring a similar emerald emblem as the key ring. Above the emerald, the number 1113 glowed as Grout stroked the center of the vault door and after a moment, it was pushed open. Grout motioned to Hermione to step inside.
She cautiously stepped forward and was knocked for six at what she saw! Gold pieces were piled high up to the ceiling and hundreds upon hundreds of emeralds lined the floor. At the center of the room there was a silver box with a snake wrapped around it. Hermione reached down to pick it up, but as she did this it's green eyes flashed open wildly. The snake came to life and stared deeply into Hermione's face. Her eyes were wide and scared, but her mouth held a quiet strength that her expression reflected wholeheartedly. The snake relaxed and the box popped open.
Inside the box was a small book which read "Carte Postales" on the cover, a letter and a small heart shaped necklace which featured twin snakes coiled around in an embrace. Hermione was more confused than she ever could have thought possible.
She lifted the necklace out of the box and fingered the little chain tentatively. It was so delicate but seemed utterly indestructible. Hermione turned to Grout, who pretended he hadn't been watching the young witch at all, "Please…sir…Mr. Grout…who was my…" she could barely make her mouth form the words "mother? What was her name?"
"I believe it is all contained in the letter". His response was cold and precise. Hermione gripped the letter fiercely and collected the box under her right arm.
"Very good" Grout said, taking his cue that she was ready to leave the vault.