Disclaimer : I do not any rights of Harry Potter !
Thanks to Ferretina, my Beta !
Chapter 10: First Years
"… Gryffindor!"
The whole table stood up, cheering their new member, Ron left the place next to him to his best friend, happy to have him at his side. Hermione was glad to see that something had finally changed and gave Harry a delightful look, the latter being more than happy at that moment. Everything was perfect, he had a great family and was going to spend years learning the magic with Ron his friend, and nothing could in that evening remove the smile he had on his face.
However Potter's mother had a small twinge in her heart as she saw them together. She should have been there with them or rather a little girl who would have the gift of exasperating them should have been sitting with them. She resigned herself to ensuring the safety and welfare of those who were once her best friends. She hoped that Ron's year as well as Harry's would go well, in the evening she was directly questioned by Sirius to find out where her son had been placed. The first weeks of classes went pretty well and Harry did not seem to follow Draco's influence. Wanting to make his mother proud of him he studied more than ever, dragging Ron into the library at the same time.
The notes of the young men were very good except in Potions where Ron's were horrific. Sometimes they asked Hermione for more information, but she could not do anything apart from advising them on how to improve their knowledge with books. As in his version of the story Harry became a Quidditch seeker and the two boys were very close friends with Hagrid. The year went very well and Gryffindor won the house cup. The exams had gone well for everyone and no unpleasant event had come to spoil the beginning of schooling at Hogwarts for the young Potter.
Hermione knew that next year he would not have to face Basilisk or be accused of being a Slytherin heir. The holidays went very well, sometimes Harry and Olivia were with the Weasleys and sometimes Ginny and Ron came to their house. It was the turn of the young witches to worry about their distribution, Olivia who had badly lived the separation from her big brother wanted more than anything to be in Gryffindor. For Ginny it was simpler, she did not want to disappoint her parents or be alone...
Hermione smiled back at Ron and Harry in Arthur Weasley's enchanted car in her world and then thought of Dobby! He would never be released by Harry ... She had to find a solution to that. The couple accompanied their two children this time if to the 9 ¾ and the two witches stayed with their respective big brothers. It was with great joy that the two girls were sent to Gryffindor and instinctively placed themselves beside the members of their families at the table.
The announcement of some active Death Eaters here and there had however somewhat spoiled the happiness of Hermione who would take advantage of the Christmas holidays in a few months to conduct her own investigation. The Professor took advantage of the context of her class to tell the ancient legend of the Chamber of Secrets to the class of Harry and Ron.
"But Professor, it's just a legend? There is not really a Chamber of Secrets?" Exclaimed Neville, who was scared.
"Well, Mr. Longbottom, it exists and was rid of the monster that inhabited it about a decade ago, you have nothing to fear I can assure you."
"Professor Wilkins, what was that creature?" Asked Draco, looking a little too curious.
"It was a Basilisk, an extremely dangerous creature that kills you in one look and petrifies you if you only see the reflection of his eyes. Can anyone here tell me how to heal someone petrified?"
Everyone remained silent, and Ron was amazed, raising his hand to reveal that it was necessary to make an adult Mandragore-based potion. Hermione was surprised that the latter had listened to the course of Botany but added for 5 points to Gryffindor. She went on to explain that creatures like spiders fled before a Basilisk, and that in addition to his murderous eyes he possessed a very powerful venom, of which there is only one remedy: the tears of a phoenix, which is extremely rare.
The class was very attentive to this class, which included History of Magic and means of defence, even if no practice could be done, they were all happy to learn more about the Chamber of Secrets. Hermione gave them a duty that evening: a scroll of parchment on the creatures able to live several centuries.
Olivia and Ginny spent a lot of time with their brothers, making them revisit their first year when the young witches needed help with homework. The notes were good for the whole little family and there was only Hermione who was beginning to worry about the Death Eater reports. During the Christmas holidays, she set out to go on a mission with Sirius and they would join their children for the holidays, it was a promise. Going on hunting, they were surprised by five Death Eaters, someone had to betray them for them to be ambushed.
The fight began and the spells were fired from all sides, Hermione received one of it, full force in the stomach. She stood up to help Sirius and avoided taking "Avada Kedavra". The couple got away with Remus and Tonks who had been alerted by a group of Death Eaters around. Once the adrenaline rush passed, Hermione collapsed into Sirius' arms, the fate she'd suffered a few minutes earlier had probably caused her internal bleeding.
She woke up on December 23rd in a bed in St Mungo's Hospital, the Mediwizard had quickly taken charge of her and from the same evening she could leave if she promised to spare. Sirius, Remus, and Tonks had remained at her bedside and no one had warned Harry and Olivia of the adventures of their parents. Hermione was told that, given her wounds, it was very likely she could no longer conceive a child, she was certainly saddened, but anyway she had Harry and Olivia who were already over 10 years old, now would create a little too much gap. She consoled herself in the arms of Sirius.
"You should not have come on a mission with me Mione, it was too dangerous ... It's all my fault." Sirius said sadly as he looked into Hermione's face.
"Have not you finished telling stupid things? I came of my own free will and then I remind you that in my world I already kicked Death Eater ass!"
He gave her a smile. He signed a few discharge papers and after thanking Remus and Tonks for the umpteenth time they headed for the Burrow, Hermione leaning heavily on Sirius' arm. Both had some cuts and bruises here and there, remove but nothing serious. Once they arrived at the Burrow they were welcomed by the whole Weasley family and their children, they all wanted to welcome them by hugs during these holidays, but they were stopped by seeing their faces banged and Hermione's weakness. Sirius put her in the living room, nobody had even offered a word, and it was known that the couple were investigating Death Eaters but nothing else had filtered. Olivia barely dared to snuggle up against her mother, but the latter gave her a maternal gesture.
"Dad, what happened? Why do you have cuts everywhere? Why is mommy in this condition?" Harry had questioned him so quickly that the words had jostled in his mouth.
"Your mother will recover she is strong, son! We were trapped by an ambush of Death Eaters and she was hit hard by an unformed spell but you know your mother. She was so stubborn that despite her wound she continued to fight and even saved my life."
"How did you get out?" Asked Molly.
"Remus and Tonks! They came to our rescue and helped me carry Hermione to St. Mungo's. She had internal bleeding but was treated on time so everything will be fine."
The family nodded, Hermione was surprisingly calm. Yet she had a big smile as she had found her children, Sirius helped her move out when many special fireworks created by the twins broke out in the sky. The wizard remembered a very important Christmas in his heart, the one where Hermione told him she was pregnant with their daughter Olivia. He had a blow on his heart, it had been more than ten years that he was with his precious witch and she was always named Wilkins.
He slipped away for a few minutes, going to search old family affairs and finding what he was looking for. He then returned to his companion and sat beside her on the bench created so that she could be with them outside without tiring. He looked at her and took her hand, which immediately attracted the attention of the young woman, the rest of the group being focused on the magic of fireworks.
"Mione, I almost lost you yesterday and I do not know what I would have become if... You saved me, you loved me and you still love me. You gave me two beautiful children and you supported me in everything I did. I do not want to spend any more time without telling myself that you are related to me, more officially. Mione, would you marry me?"
He then pulled out an old ring that had at first glance was a good hundred years minimum, "It must have belonged to the Black family," thought Hermione. She looked at him and gave him a "Yes" before kissing him and letting him put on that ring. Molly, who had turned around during the request, rushed at them to congratulate them. Happiness was at its height on this Christmas and was followed by a beautiful year when Hermione became Mrs Black.
