Raised with Magic
Chapter Ten: Growing
Before I fell asleep, my mind was swarmed with thoughts. The least of which was my Mum stopping training before we even began and ushering me off to bed after talking to someone in the fire.
I hate thinking before I sleep. I like thinking when I wake up and my mind is clear and calm. Before sleep, thoughts swarm, clutter and fight with each other until nothing is left but a head ache and head aches hurt.
Last night I was thinking about lots of things. I was thinking about how I don't have a clue what I would do if Mum died on me too. I thought about how unfair it is that I can't have a single moment of normal in my life. I thought a lot about what Mum might have talked to the fire about and what that would mean for me in the morning. Most importantly, I thought about my new mantra, a lot.
I slept in the next day, mainly because it had been so difficult for me to fall asleep. Sometimes I think that the only time I sleep at all is because my magic makes me sleepy. Otherwise, I don't think that my thoughts would ever shut off enough for me to sleep.
As I woke up, Leo was playing with my hand that had fallen off the bed and dangled towards the ground. "Okay, Leo," I told him, "I'm up. Let's go downstairs and I'll get you some breakfast." My Mother and her best friend Julia always told me I was foolish for talking to Leo. I think that they are silly because obviously Leo understands what I am saying perfectly. I know that Leo at least understands me much more than any adult ever will.
Mum was downstairs with Luna and already had breakfast ready for both Leo and I. "Thanks, Mum." I ate the toast and attempted to eat the eggs, but my stomach wasn't feeling very good and I didn't manage. Something inside of me was predicting that something was going to make me nervous and that made my stomach not happy. It's one of those times that a feeling causes a reaction which makes the feeling last, which means that it, it being the feeling, is caused by nothing and I shouldn't worry. I do anyway.
"Are you done?" I nodded reluctantly. "Well then, you can head upstairs and get dressed. We are going to be going over the Weasley's for a few hours then I have someone for you to talk to." There! That would be my unfortunate event of the day, that was the reason that I couldn't eat my eggs! So much for my it was nothing theory.
We had walked to the Weasley's house. The trip was only a ten minute walk and it was a nice day out. Mum had even let us walk without our shoes on, because the grass was warmed from the sun and felt nice under our bare feet. The idea belonged to Luna, but I was glad to join in. Mum was too, she really is just a grown up Luna which is nice to know because it means that Luna and I will still be close years and years and years from now.
The front path up to the Weasley's was the same as it was the times I have been here. I like that for all the chaos and craziness of the Burrow, it never really changes. Mrs. Weasley answered the door when Luna knocked. She was wielding a wooden spoon in her hand, not harshly or anything, it was just their and waved around as she walked and talked. I think that it gives her powers. Powers of a mother maybe, like how a wand gives a witch power. Or at least that she might think so and by default the people around her feel it.
"Hello girls, Ginny is upstairs." Mrs. Weasley greeted, hugging us tight. It was plainly clear that she didn't want her prankster sons to corrupt me. Mum winked at me as the two of us headed upstairs. Luna went left, I went right. Let the corruption of Hermione Jane Lovegood Granger commence. I smiled.
"Knock, knock!" I called as I stood outside their door. My eyes scanned over the door's surface and the images the grain made. One of them looked like a particularly funny shaped wolf with one paw being the size of his head. Or maybe her head, how can one tell the gender of a wolf hidden in the grain of a door?
"Hermione!" One of them called, through the closed door. I stopped looking at the grain as my eyes shot up to the place where I imagined them to be behind the door. Maybe one day, for as completely not normal as I am known to be, maybe one day I will know.
"What, no who's there?" The comment was a light jibe at something Fred had said last time we had visited. I liked the idea of having inside jokes beyond the family. My comment had barely ended when I was pulled inside of the messy room with the door open for as little time a time as possible.
"Group hug!" George called in a fake girlie voice as the pair basically tackled me, again. I didn't mind one bit. All of us broke out into strong laughter. It is amazing how much I feel like I am exactly where the universe wants me to be when I am with them, almost normal.
"So, what are you two up to today?" I didn't like how that sentenced sounded but I mentally shrugged it off as unimportant. I blame my funny sounding sentences to just barely having regained the ability to properly intake oxygen. I know the importance of oxygen. I have taken a third level science class after all.
"We're going to prank Percy!" Fred confided. He grabbed my hand and pulled me over to an almost clean corner of the room. A mismatched ball of socks and a toothbrush invaded the cleared space, but that's all.
"What are you doing?" I asked, fascinated with the possibilities of what they might have come up with.
"Wrong question Hermione." George mocked me, using my 'I'm annoyed with you' voice. I was worried when he first picked up on that tone of mine. Now I'm not worried anymore. Have I mentioned lately how much I love the twins. They're mine. I decided. I am claiming them forever and they will forever be my boys. I think they know that.
I slanted my head to the side, "Huh?"
"Think about the question you had asked." Fred prompted, "and fix your error missy." He waggled his finger in my face. I almost told him it was rude.
I thought about what he said instead and grinned, "What are we doing?" I corrected slowly as I suppressed a smile. Maybe it hadn't been rude at all.
"Bingo!" They cheered, I let my self unleash my grin. I know that they have claimed me too. I like the fact that they have.
We finished getting the dye into Percy's personal shampoo, the shampoo that he keeps hidden under his bed, with an entire half hour to spare. In that half hour I learned more random things about the twins and I loved every minute of it.
I admitted that I had some control of wandless magic, and that I was going to be taught by my Mum. I also promised to explain everything when we had more time. They accepted what I said and had me show them some magic. I will never be able to thank them enough for not rejecting me because of it not to mention that it might have been one of the scariest things I have ever had to do in my life. But I did have to do it, because how can you belong to people as they belong to you and yet still keep such a gargantuan secret from them?
When Mum came and got me, I left having already gotten a twin's honor promise for them not to tell anyone my secret. A prankster's honor promise was not a promise one had to worry about being broken.
"Where are we going, Mum?" I asked as I held her hand during our departure. Luna stayed at the Burrow and I was kind of jealous. Okay, a lot jealous.
"We're going to Hogwarts. I set up a meeting with Headmaster Dumbledore." Mum answered, handing me some Floo powder, telling me to call out 'Hogwarts Headmaster's Office'. I really hate floo and secretly I was annoyed she didn't tell me before. I had been nervous and I shouldn't have been. I like Mr. Dumbledore. He's like a big Grandfather teddy bear. I wouldn't have worried if I knew that was our destination. However, even being annoyed my nervousness still melted into relief. At least we weren't going to go meet with Mr. Newlhouse. I don't like Mr. Newlhouse, I wonder still if that makes me a bad person. I don't want to be a bad person. Then again, I don't really want to like Mr. Newlhouse either.
"Hermione, so good to see you again!" The headmaster greeted me giving me a tight hug before I could ever look at where I had landed after being spit out of the fireplace. To my surprise, I gave him a enthusiastic hug back. I've been getting a lot of hugs lately. I'm okay with being greedy and wanting more. "Kaya, Hermione, please sit down. I had tea sent up, would you like some?" Mum took a cup but I declined. "Alright, so Hermione, I hear that you have been teaching yourself about your magic." He got right to the topic. I sort of wish he would have evaded it for a bit. I probably should have taken the tea, but my hands are shaking and I didn't want to break a cup like I had with Mother's china that one time. Mother said she would never trust me with her good china again, but Mr. Dumbledore didn't know that so it was up to me to make sure I didn't break his. So, I made the right choice, even if I now wish I had just taken the cup and been extra careful.
"Yes, Sir." I answered simply unsure if I was in trouble or not. I hate when adults don't make it clear to you what's going on. I might understand a lot more than I am actually given credit for but I need something to work with.
"And you have already mastered levitation?" I knew, that he knew, I had. I took a moment thinking about the importance of confirmation, but stopped myself so I could reply.
"Yes, Sir." I nodded just in case. Sometimes, I can't tell if I spoke loud enough.
"What else have you learned?" I wasn't sure if my Mum had told him about my theories, but he seemed to know they existed. I wondered if he simply knew everything or even if it were possible for one person to know everything.
"I think I will have an easier time learning to control my magic in manners which already have spell counterparts." I hated that my voice was meek, but I couldn't break the sound.
"Oh?" He prompted. I wish he would just tell me what he already knew about me and what I think. Really, why did he seem to know these things?
"I was working on summoning and the magic was stronger when I thought the spell, but only when I blanked my mind of the wand movements." Apparently, my tension started to show because he smiled and told me I should relax and have some tea. I don't know why I get tense sometimes. Daddy tells me I worry too much and no five year old should be tense. I wish.
"You are not in any trouble Hermione. We're just surprised at your proficiency when it comes to wandless magic. Normally, it would take a lifetime for a wizard to reach your level. And for those like the three of us, months maybe years. You're a very unique case." He said this kindly, like it was a good thing. I wanted to cry. I wanted to be normal. Mum put a hand on my shoulder. "Your Mother-"
"Mum." I interrupted strongly. At least my voice cared about working properly for this. Mr. Dumbledore caught on and didn't look offended or mad by the panic in my eyes. "Sorry, Child, your Mum will be able to teach you, but it is possible that in a year or two that she will have nothing more to teach you. We will start our lessons together then." I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. "Well, with that said would you lovely ladies join me for lunch?"
I was confused, I had thought that this talk would take nearly as long as that awful one with Mr. Newlhouse at the bank place. Which is why Mum happened to be the one to respond. "Actually, Albus, I wanted to run down and speak to Severus quickly." Mum replied.
"Wonderful, when you go speak to our Potions Master I'll introduce Hermione to the professors who are here at Hogwarts joining us for lunch today." His eyes were twinkling, I don't know it that is a normal bodily function. I should as Jared or at least read a book.
"Is that okay with you Hermione?" Mum asked. I nodded, glad that I didn't have to talk anymore about my 'special gifts' and my 'unique abilities'. Really, was it so much to ask to be normal? Then again, maybe normal wouldn't be so great. If I was normal I might not be alive. True I would be with Daddy and Mother which could never be bad. But I like the Lovegoods and the Weasleys and Mr. Dumbledore and even the goblins at the bank and I don't think I would have liked never having meet them. Then again, I would have never known what they were like had I never met them and is it possible to miss people that you don't know?
We were at what Mr. Dumbledore called the great hall before I came to any conclusions. Only three teachers were present at lunch which made me feel a lot better. I don't think I would have liked to meet the entire staff today. Besides, my mind was already occupied by thinking about what Mr. Dumbledore had told me just as I zoned back in to what he was saying as we reached the lunch room. By Wizarding law, Albus Dumbledore is my godfather. So, goddaughter of the Headmaster was how I was introduced to Minerva McGonagall, Rubeus Hagrid and Filius Flitwick.
Professor McGonagall is a very nice women who is obviously strict. The fact that I am the Headmaster's goddaughter made her my self appointed aunt. I didn't mind, it felt nice that my new family is growing. Aunt Minerva, as she told me to call her was very interested in Leo and I was more then happy to talk about him. I was told I could bring him by and introduce them sometimes. I think that Leo will like spending some time at Hogwarts, and he and I can even go exploring once I introduce him to Aunt Minerva.
Hagrid became animated during that part of the conversation and volunteered to show me some of the magical creatures on the grounds. I agreed strait away, I love the idea of them actually being there when we got around to getting Mum's permission and went out to see them.
Professor Flitwick was nice but on the other end of the table and I only really got to say hello to him. Next time, I promised myself. Next time I would learn who Professor Flitwick is and where he fits into my new life.