A/N: Hello everyone. I am pretty sure my last chapter must have left you confused about many things. Don't worry; you will get the answers gradually.
Earlier I had thought to keep the story from Hermione's point of view only. However, every now and then that will change as it does in this chapter.
Hope you like it.
"I still think we should send Harry to a different school," Sirius said from his seat around the dinner table in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place.
Sarah sighed. She turned the tap off, dried her hands and then turned to face Sirius. "We already had the discussion, Sirius."
"That wasn't discussion," Sirius said, "That was Remus and you over-ruling my idea."
Sarah chuckled before taking seat beside Sirius. "Why do you think so, Sirius?"
Sirius sighed. Many a times before, he had told her of concerns. Did he need to go over all that again?
"Sarah," Sirius started, "Do I have to tell you that the press here simply fawns over Harry? Or that he would always be scrutinised for everything he does in Hogwarts? Or that he might not have true friends in Hogwarts since people in Hogwarts would just like to bask in his company?"
"You are at least wrong in the last aspect," Sarah cut in. "Harry has friends. The Weasleys. All of whom are in Hogwarts. They will protect him from attention-seekers. Then, there's Dumbledore. He isn't going to let press in in Hogwarts."
"She is right, Padfoot," Remus said as he slumped on the chair across Sirius. "And you send Harry anywhere; his fame is going to precede him."
"Not if he goes out of Britain," Sirius said, "He is too famous here. Anywhere else his fame won't be that big a thing. Out of Britain people don't know much about Voldemort."
"Sirius," Remus sighed, "Harry wants to go to Hogwarts. I think that's enough a reason."
"He wants to go there because he loves to hog the limelight," Sirius muttered.
"What was that?" Sarah asked.
"Nothing," Sirius said, irritated, "Do what all you want." He said before leaving the two in the kitchen.
Sarah sighed. Remus was shaking his head slightly. "I really don't know what exactly he is worried about. Is it Harry's popularity? Or Harry becoming like James?"
"He mustn't like James if he is worried about the second part," Sarah noted.
"He didn't," Remus nodded, "James loved the attention he received and must I add not always did the right things to achieve it. But he has to understand Harry is not James."
"He is, I think, worried about first leading to second," Sarah said, thinking hard. With a rueful smile, she added, "Sirius has never been able to see Harry in different light than James. It scares me sometimes, though."
Remus nodded. "It should. Harry craves for Sirius' acceptance. I have noticed his behaviour. He remains nonchalant about Sirius' expectations only outwardly. The only reason he wants to be an auror is because Sirius is an auror."
"I have talked to him many times," Sarah said sadly, "but nothing seems to go beneath his thick skull."
"He will come around, Sarah," Remus said, smiling, "He will come around."
'I wish it comes soon', wished Harry, who was listening to the conversation outside the door.
"Trunk?" Severus asked Hermione.
"Check."
"Peg?"
"Check."
"Wand?"
"Check."
"Good," Severus nodded, satisfied, looking at the packed trunk, Peg, the black owl in cage and wand in Hermione's hand.
"Enough checking, you two," Ella said, coming over to where Severus and Hermione were standing. "We should move now."
"Yes, it's nearly time," Blaise said, looking at his watch.
It was August 15, the day for Hermione to depart to her new school. Salem's School.
"Alright, Hermione you come with me," Severus said, shrinking the trunk and pocketing it, as he moved to the apparition point. "Blaise will come with Ella."
As soon as Hermione held Severus' hand, Severus cried 'see you seen' and disappeared. Blaise and Ella followed soon.
After few moments of a sick feeling of being vacuumed in a tight tube, darkness and breathlessness, Hermione found herself in a dingy and small room.
Before she could notice anything else, Severus dragged her outside the room.
This was better.
Best.
Before her stood a cruise. A colossal magnificent cruise.
Hermione was busy gaping at the cruise that she didn't even notice Blaise and Ella arrive behind her.
"Wow!" Blaise voice muttered her musings.
Hermione looked at her parents; Severus was un-shrinking the trunk, while Ella was looking around with déjà-vu.
"Like it?" She asked Hermione.
"You don't have to ask me, Mom," Hermione muttered.
Ella laughed out loud. "Well, let me explain this port to all of you. Here," she pointed to the rooms, they had come from, "are apparition centres. Slightly further from here are shops for snacks, books, etc, etc. Then, there," she pointed towards the opposite side of shops, "is the Captain's room."
"Amazing," Severus said looking around.
"Is this u-underground?" Blaise asked, noticing the blackness over head.
"Of course," Ella said matter-of-factly. "How else can you hide this route otherwise? Now I wonder whether they have changed the Cabin Board's position or not." she said looking around, spotting something some five feet away. "There it is."
"What is that?" Severus asked as he was led to the said Cabin Board.
"Oh," Ella said, "It's a board which tells you which cabin is yours and who all are going to share it with you. It will also tell me which teachers are sailing this year with them."
"Teachers?" Blaise asked.
"To keep a tab on trouble makers," Ella said. "Plus they organise a small luncheon feast where everyone gather and introduce themselves to each others. New students are given a brief about the school by them as well as Prefects."
"Sounds fun," Hermione said, smiling.
They found that Hermione was sharing her cabin, which was on the top floor, with a girl – Stacy Vance – and two boys – Frank Adams and Daniel Pitt.
"I wonder why Dumbledore is late," Severus muttered to himself as looked at the clock hanging on the wall.
"Here I am," Dumbledore announced his presence. Hermione ran to hug him.
"Hello, Granny," Hermione wished Dumbledore. She heard someone snicker and who else can it be than Blaise.
"Hello to you too, child," Dumbledore said, kissing her on the forehead.
Severus, Ella and Blaise wished Dumbledore.
"Now, Hermione," Dumbledore addressed her, "I have a gift for you." He took out a red velvet cloth from his packet and opened it to reveal a small silver necklace with a red stone in the shape of tear-drop in it.
Hermione gasped as she looked at the beautiful necklace. Dumbledore removed the necklace Hermione was wearing, which was also his gift, and clasped the new one around her neck.
"There you go," He said jovially, handing her a mirror.
"It's beautiful, Granny," Hermione whispered. "But there was no need for a gift."
"You know I like to do things randomly," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling.
Hermione was still admiring her necklace when Blaise whispered, "Just tell me why you call him Granny."
Hermione laughed. "Oh, that's why you were snickering. It's habit. When I was very young and Mom was explaining me differences between male and female she said females have long hair. I applied that theory to him as well," she motioned towards Dumbledore, "Dad tried to correct me but I couldn't pronounce Grandpa. So, it stayed as Granny and has since then."
"Weird," Blaise muttered, "How about we go and place your luggage in your cabin?"
"You can admit that you are dying to see the cruise," Hermione smirked.
"I was only trying to help you," Blaise said. When Hermione responded with a raised eyebrow, he accepted. "Yeah, I want to see the cruise too. Shall we, now?"
Laughing Hermione informed her parents and went to the cruise with Blaise. There was still half an hour for the cruise to leave. Enough time to explore it.
"Here," Dumbledore said, placing the old necklace of Hermione onto Ella's palm, "You can use it as normal jewellery now. I have removed the magic from it."
"And the new necklace?" Severus asked.
"You have nothing to worry about, my boy," Dumbledore smiled, "That has advanced magic. It will correspond to Hermione's control of her magic. The more she will gain control over her magic, the less will the necklace control it. Once Hermione achieves full control of her magic, the necklace will be rendered useless in that aspect."
"I sometimes wonder," Ella said, "She is quite smart already when we have controlled her magic. What would she be like with hundred percent magic?"
"I do not wonder about, my child," Dumbledore smiled, "because I know what she would be like. A very powerful witch."
Soon it was time bid good bye to everyone. The cruise has rung it bell once – a signal to aboard the cruise.
Hermione quickly hugged Dumbledore, Blaise and her mom. She then turned to her dad.
"Dad," she whispered, "do you think I will be a good witch?"
Severus knew how much his opinion and his approval meant to Hermione. he knelt down to Hermione's level. Taking her small hand in his, he smiled at her. How soon has my daughter grown up. Wish I could stall the time for … maybe forever.
"Hermione," he whsipered, "no matter how good you are at magic, no matter how many marks or grades you get in school, I will always love you. We will always love you."
Hermione felt her nervousness melt away. The fact that her father didn't want her to be perfect or at the top made her feel relaxed. They would always love her.
Hermione smiled at her dad.
"Get on, now," Severus said. Hermione obliged and climbed the stairs to the deck. She waved at her family once again, letting a small tear fall from her eyes since they won't see it.
"I will be a good witch, Dad," Hermione whispered as the cruise started drifting forward, away from the port where hundreds of families were waving their children away.
"I will make you proud."
A/N: I hope the chapter didn't come out as strange. Anyway we had a small peek-a-boo in Harry's life as well. I think i should have small small sections for other characters as well. What do you say?
The only reason i didn't explore the cruise along with Blaise and Hermione is because i never had been on one. So, obviously i would have gone all wrong about it; i hope it's not wrong as it is. So, don't expect me to define it in the next chapter. You will get an idea in Hermione's letter to Blaise, though.
I am open to any ideas and suggestions. Let me know. Do review please.
Ciao.