Chapter 3: Time to put the plan into action
„Ilvermorny?" McGonagall said breathless and shocked. Her jaw hung open as she nearly jumped out of the comfy armchair and stared at the young girl sitting next to her. Across the Desk, that was full of little things and papers, Dumbledore eyed the two ladies in front of him, lost in sorting his own opinion. "But why would you want to leave us, Hermione?". The Head of Gryffindor couldn't quite catch on those change of things.
Hermione sat grumpy, sunken in the too big chair. Her arms crossed. She knew it would have been the right way to approach this by talking about it with her head of house first. But she also knew that McGonagall wouldn't let her go. She just loves her students so much and she wouldn't understand. So Hermione went to Dumbledore with her plan, after she gathered all the needed information. Knowing that he is a wizard that is open to ideas, that seem strange to the most and if she would get to explain her reasoning, she was sure he would agree upon her plan. Unfortunately his first action was to call for Minerva McGonagall, when Hermione explained why she wished to speak with him.
"Girl, are you aware what you are saying?" The Professor laid a hand on the girls shoulder. "I mean we are your family, this is your home…..and oh…..your friends young Harry and Mr. Weasley….." Her face wore a sad expression now.
"Now now Minerva, give the girl a second to answer all your questions." Dumbledore looked over his glasses still sorting things out in his own head. He tried to understand where the girl was coming from. "Hermione, would you please?" he asked kindly and pushed a little bowl with lemon drops from his side of the desk over into her reach. It tricked a little smile out of the girl, but she didn't take any of the candy.
Unfolding her arms, and leaning a bit forward in her chair, she took a breath to start her well-prepared explanation. "It's been months since my…..since things happened." Oh no she already stumbled at the first few words. Stay calm Hermione. "But still the other students can't forget or drop the topic. Whenever there is chance they remind me, while I try to find a normal day rhythm." She let out an annoyed sigh, thinking about several occasions that replayed this example. "It's just impossible to find my way back into feeling normal again." She turned her Head from the Headmaster to her Head of House. "And Harry and Ron are the worst, when it comes to this. They mean well but they just can't treat me like their friend from first year anymore." She looked at her shoes that hang in the air, thanks to the too big furniture she was sitting on, or rather laying on. "And even you" she looked at her Professor again and realized how forceful she sounded. Ashamed she looked back to her shoes and started the sentence with a smaller voice. "I mean…the staff. You can't just treat me normal anymore. It's not possible with this new Situation." With new confidence she sat up straight again and looked into Dumbledore's eyes. "it's not good for me anymore. It was at the beginning and I am thankful and I needed this support, but now it makes things harder for me than they should be." She let out her breath as if she held it in before "So much for the schooling part". Now she gathered up her thoughts. That was the first part of her prepared argumentation. Time to move on to the second. "Now my living situation is the other part. You told me that living at Hogwarts can't be a permanent Solution. And its much easier for me to find a suited foster family over there. I know that Ilvermorny is a lot more democratic when it comes to muggleborns." Now the look in her eyes became fierce "You told me yourself, that given the rumors around Hogwarts at the moment, it could be difficult for me to find a home anytime soon." Now it was time for the last blow and her final argument. "I did a lot of reading concerning Ilvermorny and you two, knowing me well, have to agree that it would be the best place I could hope for, for a new start. Its organization is not unlike Hogwarts, so it wont be too unfamiliar. The contents of classes are very much alike, so I wouldn't fall behind much. In the worst case scenario I have to repeat one year, but I think I can catch up there. America would be a much better place to sort out my family-situation and you, surely being in contact with Ilvermorny's Headmaster, could keep track of my wellbeing." She laid back in her big chair, let her breathing slow down and waited nervously for a response. That was all she had, if they wouldn't take this explanation as enough, then she was doomed to live her life as 'The girl, who's parents died'
Silence filled the room only for seconds, while both adults tried to come to terms with the heard, but for Hermione it felt like hours stretching out. If Dumbledore spoke first, so she thought, the game would be hers. If Professor McGonagall was the one to react first, this would become tricky. She wouldn't want her to go.
She felt the urge to bite her nails, she never bit her nails. This was nerve killing.
The two teachers looked at each other until finally Dumbledore leaned back in his chair as well. "Well, I have to admit you thought this trough quite detailed, young lady." He fold his Hands in front of his chest, elbows resting on the armrests. "Not like we had to expect any less from you. Just as prepared as always." Professor McGonagall's face turned more and more into a confused mask as she got hit by the Headmasters words. He continued "but are you really aware of the consequences, when you decide to leave your friends here and start over in such an unfamiliar place?"
Before Hermione could answer, Professor McGonagall jumped to her feet. "Albus Dumbledore! You can't possibly be seriously considering this?!" she pointed a finger at him, furiously. "You cant let her go. She is only 12 years old! You can't let her make such a life changing decision."
The girl turned angry. What did this woman think - to question her ability of decision-making? Hermione took wiser choices than most adults she knew. She took a breath ready to defend herself, but the Headmaster was faster to speak.
"Minerva, please, this is young Miss Granger we are talking about. She is not known among the staff for jumping on baseless ideas, but for great preparation, research and a mind that seems much more mature." Pleased to see that he succeeded in calming the student, that sat across, as well as making his long term colleague overthink the matter.
Resigned Minerva let her Shoulders fall down. She put a hand on her cheek and wore a tired mimic on her face. Hermione felt a little regret and pain in her chest. She never saw her Head of House so…..so exhausted. But despite feeling guilty for being the reason to cause this, she knew that it was her only chance to get a grip on her own life again. Now it was her turn to put a hand on her Professors shoulder. "I am sorry to do this to you Professor, but I feel that I have to do it." She tried to force an encouraging smile on her lips "please, say yes" Now she sounded like a little child that wants to visit the circus, but the reason behind her pleading was so far away from childish dreams as it could be.
With a helpless sigh, the older woman enclosed the girl in a deep hug and tried to hold back a sniffle. "Oh dear, if you really thought that trough and are so headstrong about the matter, how could I be the one to keep you from happiness."
Hermione felt hot tears pool in her eyes. She never witnessed such an exposure of emotions from her teacher. She really must care for her students….for her. But all the nervousness, all the worry fell off of Hermione now. "Thank you!" she whispered. The two of them separated again, both wiping their own tears away, as Dumbledore took the word again
"So if we agree on this, let's get all the necessary planning started, shall we?" he said in a grandfather-like tone and called one of Hogwarts houseelfes for some tea. This would be a long evening for the trio.