Chapter 21 – Fun and Games

8 April, 2010

Mia's Townhouse

New York City, New York

Hermione Granger

Ophelia loved us enough to disappear again, I nod, "Mina died about three weeks after the Quidditch World Cup. Mina died so Ophelia could protect my father once again."

God, this is too overwhelming to contemplate right now. Wilhelmina? I walk over to the counter where my cell phone is lying, and look up the meaning of Wilhelmina. Then I look up the meaning of the surname Ward. It was all right in front of us the whole time. I look up and see Draco deep in thought.

I walk back to the couch and sit down. I set my phone down, and Draco looks over at me. I chuckle softly, "I think you're right. Her name, Wilhelmina Ward literally means, 'protective guard.' Why is it when I want to be angry at her, she somehow manages to just steamroll me in to accepting her?"

Draco laughs, "Because that is who she is. She was a pain in the arse, and just when you wanted to yell at her or walk out her life forever, she'd do the thing to make you love her again." He laughs again. "I think we need to see more memories, and then I'll tell you all I know."

I nod, "I just need a moment."

10 September 1994

Music Room

Dagworth Castle

Cornwall, England

Hermione

I'm sitting at the piano playing a song and start to sing,

" You left in the rain without closing the door

I didn't stand in the way

Now I miss you more than I

Missed you before and now

Where I'll find comfort, God knows

'Cause you left me, just when I needed you most."

I start to feel the tears coming so I close my eyes and continue,

" Now, most every morning, I

Stare out the wind and I

Think about where you might be.

I've written you letters that I'd like to send

If you would just send one to me

Now I love you more than I

Loved you before than now

Where I'll find comfort, God knows,

'Cause you left me just when I needed you most

Oh yeah, you left me just when I needed you most

You left me just when I needed you most." (A/N: Footnote 1)

I still have my eyes closed when I hear an applause at the end of the grand piano. I open my eyes and through the tears I see Sirius Black. "That was beautiful, Kitten. Why are you playing that depressing arse shite so early in the morning on a Saturday?"

I look at him and cover my eyes with my palms and slam my elbows on the piano keys, and with the loud clang I start sobbing. I received an owl from my dad today. There is a Royal Mail office near The Leaky Cauldron that is ran by squibs. When a muggle has a letter for a Hogwarts student, they can deliver it there, or take it in person for an owl to deliver the letter. My dad told me today in his letter that Mina passed away this week and her son brought over a box of things she hadn't given me yet.

She was family. My mum and dad loved her. She would sometimes watch me if one of my parent's couldn't get off early or if they had an emergency. She gave me three books a week to read. She would have me write down all the words I didn't understand, and then explain them to me later. The older I became the shorter the list became. Some things she would just say, "You can learn about that when you're forty." She read me fairytales and then would makeup stories about what really happened. She taught me piano and gave me voice lessons. She took me to ballet class twice a week because it was right after school. She taught Valerie and I how to garden. She taught me about flowers and their symbolism. She would have me read history and if it happened in Britain she would confirm the real story. She was a brilliant historian. I'm going to miss her. It feels overpowering after losing Valerie in June.

I feel an arm around my shoulder and I'm pulled into a Sirius' body, "Ssshhh, Kitten, it's going to be alright. Now tell me what is going on in that enormous brain of yours."

"My dad owled me today. Our neighbor died. She was a huge presence in my life for as long as I remember. She was like a grandmother to me, but she was also my friend. I didn't have very many friends growing up, but she always knew what to say or do to cheer me up."

He squeezes me tight to him, "I'm sorry, Kitten. It's hard to lose those people who shape us. Go the loo and rinse your face. There will be no classes today, I see a lot of grease and sugar in your future."

I sniffle, "Divination is absolute rubbish."

He laughs, "Hop it, kid!"

I sniffle again and get up and go to the loo. After ten minutes, I've collected myself enough to find Sirius.

He's still in the music room sitting on a chaise with a tumbler in his hand deep in thought. I laugh as I head toward him and take a seat next to him and say, "Isn't too early for a depressant on a Saturday morning?"

He smiles and shakes his head, "Cheeky, Kitten, no need for claws. I'm sorry for your neighbor, losing people is part of life. How do you know that song?"

I smile, "My dad. It was in the top 10 of the charts the week I was born and he said it was the only appropriate song he could dub as mine. He said someday when he is wretchedly old, I'm going to fall madly in love with some poncy git and leave him just when he needs me the most. He taught me to play it and we would sing it as a duet and it always made Mina tear up."

He nods, "I remember the song. Remus banned me from playing it. Marlene McKinnon was my girlfriend once we graduated Hogwarts. I was mad for her and her stubborn arse made me madder. She was killed the day after I told her I wasn't ready for a commitment. She left London to get away from me for a weekend and went home to see her parents at their manor on The Isles of Mull. Death Eaters attacked them and killed the whole family. I loved that woman, but we were getting into the thick of the war. I wasn't ready for what she wanted, marriage, kids, all that. I played that song endlessly for a week until Remus vanished it and made us go see James and Lily. I know it hurts to lose people, Kitten, but life does go on. Dorea and Charlus Potter, Harry's grandparents, they were the closest to family I had who loved me. I know your grieving, Kitten, but sometimes good memories keep you warm when everything falls apart. Only remember the good."

I feel a tear fall, because I see the hurt behind his words and I know they are true. "Thank you, Sirius. You've been so kind to me."

He nods, and downs his glass. "Enough of the heavy. We are going to have a good day. We are just waiting for reinforcements."

He goes to his CD player on the piano and plays some Black Sabbath. He takes my hand and says, "Might as well get a dancing lesson in while we wait."

We waltz around the room through about 3 songs when the music is stopped. We both look over and a beautiful young woman with pink hair is standing there with a large shopping bag.

"Wotcher, Sirius?"

He takes my hand and drags me to the young woman, "Kitten, this will be your Defense Tutor in a couple months, Nymphadora Tonks, Andi's daughter. She is a newly trained Auror and is going to help you once Remus has taught you all he knows. Nymphadora, this is Kitten."

I shake my head and reach out my hand, and say, "Hermione Granger. It's lovely to met you, Miss Tonks."

She smiles, "You can call me Tonks. I've heard a many good things about you, Hermione. I have a gift for you. Sirius floo'd me and asked me to find you something to wear that would give you some confidence. Come let's find a room to get you changed."

She leads me to a bedroom in the castle. "I hope you aren't offended. Sirius only wanted to give you a confidence boost. He says your brilliant, but like most brilliant people fashion alludes you. You're cute. We can work with this. Let's start with the hair. I'm going to teach you a spell for your hair. Ready?"

I nod, "Yes, please. I'm not offended. My mum always said vanity gives men power over females. She never taught me how to manage my hair."

Tonks shakes her head, "You need to place you wand in your hair like this, and say Sericum Cincinnis, you start in the front and work your way to the back. You'll do your sides last. With your thick hair it make take a few times to get all of your hair, but I think you will like the results."

I go to the mirror in the room and I place the wand in my hair like a comb you would use to part your hair and say the spell. I do this 5 times from the front to the back and twice on the sides. I can't believe the results.

What was once unruly bushy hair is transformed in to beautiful silky defined curls. I've never had such defined curls before. I look at Tonks with unshed tears, and say "Thank you! I'll never forget what you have done for me."

She walks over to me and says, "Oh, Hermione, we are going to have fun! I'Il teach more another time. I bought you an outfit. Come."

She leads me over to the bag she left on the floor. She hands me a plain white tee-shirt, a dark grey spaghetti strapped slip dress with a small red flower print, "Put these on first. The loo is through that door."

I go to the loo and remove my jean trousers and pink jumper. I then put the tee-shirt on and the dress over it. The dress is tighter around the top of my chest and then flares out loosely to about 3 inches above my knees. It's very comfortable.

I walk out of the loo and Tonks smiles. "It fits good. I have more to complete the look."

She reaches into the bag and pulls out a red, white, grey, and black plaid flannel. She takes her wand and points it to the flannel and says Quinque Annis Maior. It transforms to look well worn, and places it around my waist and ties the sleeves in the front. She then pulls out a short black leather jacket, and casts the same spell and the jacket softens and looks well worn. She hands me the jacket, and I put it on.

She says, "One last thing to complete the look. Doc Martin's are essential footwear for every teen." She hands me white socks and the boots. I put them on and she squats down and adjusts my socks and scrunches them perfectly.

I look in the mirror and I look so different, it's still me, but I look my age and not like a young girl wearing her mother's clothes. I smile, and say, "Thank you."

She nods, "I did pretty good with twenty minutes. You look good! I hear your birthday is coming up, we need to make Viola and Mum take you to London next week for a shopping spree. We'll have fun. When my schedule changes in a couple months we'll get you in top shape. Come let's go."

Sirius was still waiting for us in the music room. He smiles, and says, "Are we ready then?"

We apparate to an alley and when we emerge I realize we are in Camden Town in London. Sirius leads Tonks and I to Poppies. Poppies is know for their fish & chips. We all place our orders. I get to know Tonks.

We spent the rest of the day touring clothing shops and record stores. We watched the buskers all over the area. We stopped for street food when something smelled delicious. We went to the cinema and saw an American movie called The Mask. We laughed at its hilarious absurdity. When we leave the cinema, Sirius keeps breaking into the same funny dance from the movie and singing, "Chic-chicky boom. Chic-chicky boom." We were filled with laughter the rest of the day.

We got back to the castle at around 9 in the evening and I thank them both. I used the time turner and floo'd back to Hogwarts and I realize as I'm playing Exploding Snap with Harry, Ron, and Neville, Sirius was right. Life does go on.

8 April, 2010

Mia's Townhouse

New York City, New York

Hermione

When I open my eyes again I after a few minutes I look over at Malfoy and he is sorting the memories. He is concentrating on sorting them out like he is looking for something specific. I shift, and he looks over at me, and asks, "Ready?"

I smile and I tell him the story of that Saturday with Tonks and Sirius. He's giving a look like a disapproving father and asks, "Why did he call you kitten?"

I laugh, "The first day of tutoring he said I'm going to be a fierce lioness, but right now, I'm just a wee little kitten. The name never went away."

He nods, "What were they like. I never really met them."

I smile, "Sirius was brilliant, and rarely serious. He had a short attention span, and loved to laugh. He was also sad sometimes and would try to mask it with bad jokes. He encouraged me and found my vindictive side hilarious. He taught me to trust my magic. He told me all the stories of The Marauders, even the inappropriate ones. He had no shame. Tonks was the big sister everyone should have. She was clumsy and couldn't walk in a straight line without bumping into something. She was easy-going and kind. Once she loved you, she fiercely loved you. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. She was great at beauty charms even though she didn't need them or ever used them. She was a metamorphmagus and would change her hair unconsciously to bright pink when she was happy. She hated when anyone called her Nymphadora. She insisted everyone call her Tonks. Sirius always called her Nymphadora and her hair would flair bright red. She made me run a lot and get into shape. She was brilliant with defense magic and taught me how to dodge spells. She taught me some great attack spells. Her and Remus helped me learn wandless and non-verbal magic. I think they both would have loved you and teased you mercilessly."

He smiles, "Shall we continue? All of these are pre-Hogwarts."

We spend the next couple of hours watching memories of me growing up. Mina catching me conjure extra desserts and hiding her smiles. Silly banter between her and my father. There was a memory of her helping me and Valerie in the garden. There was one where she magically helped Valerie with her stutter when we were about 10. Another one of her and Minerva talking about the muggle-borns that would start in my year. She told Minerva my parents were squibs and would accept my education easier than others.

The next memory was from March of 1993. We get more wine before we begin. I start thinking of the three books she always gave me and when I went to Dagworth Castle Viola gave me three books to read for the weekend and how I never noticed that before.

We head to the pensive and drop in the memory.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

30 May, 1993

Ophelia's memory

We are standing in the infirmary at Hogwarts and Hermione lying on a bed petrified. Ophelia is standing above me absolutely fuming. She is wearing a conservative emerald green lady's suit with an emerald tiara.

Madame Pomfrey walks behind the screen. "Madame Dagworth-Granger, thank you so much for bringing the Mandrake Restorative Draught. Our mandrakes have just matured, and it would have taken another day to brew the draught."

"Well, Poppy as you know, Hogwarts is still under a contract with Dagworth-Granger Potions and Holdings for another 246 years. You could have had the draught much sooner had someone notified our offices."

Madame Pomfrey grimaces, "I apologize Madame Dagworth-Granger, Headmaster Dumbledore wanted to keep the situation quiet from the public."

Ophelia nods, "How long has this girl been petrified for?"

Madame Pomfrey answers, "A little over three weeks, I'm afraid. She was brought in with the girl beside her on a Saturday evening."

Ophelia pursues her lips, "I see. How many times have these other muggle-borns and she spent in the infirmary in the past years. I understand this girl had spent a significant amount of time in the infirmary at the beginning of the year as well. A polyjuice accident if I recall. How many more of these accidents are occurring with only muggle-borns, Poppy?"

Madame Pomfrey sighs, "Not as often as they did a few decades ago. Miss Granger has a bit of a bullying issue with Draco Malfoy."

Ophelia is almost shaking, "I see. Where is Albus right now? We are going to have another discussion, I'm afraid."

Madame Pomfrey smiles, "I believe he should be in his office."

Ophelia nods, "Take care of these children right away. The draught takes a couple days to work completely."

She walks out of the infirmary quickly with purpose. It takes her no time to reach the Headmaster's office.

She waits for the gargoyle to swing open, and makes her way up the spiral staircase. Dumbledore is sitting behind his desk and when he sees her his eyes are twinkling, and he says, "Ophelia, it's been a long time. How may I be of a service to you?"

She smiles and has a seats in front of his desk, "Albie it has been a long time. I believe we haven't had the pleasure since 1967." She then stands up and waves her hand and the Headmaster freezes. She just placed him under a full body bind curse wandlessly and non-verbally. She then walks over to him and pushes out his chair, and sits down on top of his desk in front of him. She the places her feet on his knees and leans in.

She sinisterly smirks at him, "You never could best me, could you my dear Albie," She picks up his wand and twirls it between her fingers. "Even with the possession of this little novelty wand. As you know, I was top of our class and as much as you tried you couldn't best me once. I have something to discuss with you old friend, and you are going to listen and make sure what I want happens, got it?"

She waits and says, "Right," and waves her hand again, "Now blink if you understand." He blinks, but is still frozen otherwise.

"As you know, 50 years ago I visited you after the unfortunate incident with little Myrtle Warren. We both know what really happened that night and you let sweet Rubeus Hagrid take the fall for your incompetence. You knew then what Tom Riddle was and you knew then what he was capable of. You have the same Legilimens power I do, though you still aren't as good as me." She pats his face condescendingly. "Say, do you still take all your childish frustrations out on Slytherins?" He narrows his eyes. "Ahhh, you still can't get over being bested by Slytherins or women can you. Say did dear ol' Abe figure out that you surpressed your sweet sister Ariana's magic? I mean after the orchestrated attack you caused by using imperious on those muggles failed so miserably. I wonder what your father would have said if he knew you were behind it all. How your jealousy over myself and need for power destroyed your family and killed your mother. Don't worry yourself Aberforth is too big of a Hufflepuff to reveal the best of you, Albie. I digress. We were speaking of the muggle-borns and your continued negligence leading to unnecessary accidents. Let's see….there was Myrtle Warren. You knew what Tom Riddle was up to, but you wanted to be the hero again, didn't you. There were those attacks on muggle-born girls you allowed in the late '60's. We had a nice chat then, didn't we?" She pats his cheek again. "Here we are again. You had 50 years to get rid of that monster, and you failed to do so. Now there are four muggle-borns that were petrified for WEEKS! I could have had that potion to you right away. You are under breech of contract with my company. Do we need to go in front of the Wizengamot to explain why?" He narrows his eyes.

She smiles and reaches for his beard and twirls a piece around her fingers, and very menacingly says, "You will cease your manipulations. If you so as much make another move to endanger another muggle-born while you hold this position, I will expose you. I have kept your secrets, but do not test me! If any more harm comes to Hermione Granger while she is attending this school at your hands, I will disembowel you! Do you understand? Blink twice if we have an understanding." He blinked twice.

She pats his cheek again, and in the sickly sweet voice she reserved for baby Hermione. "You're such a good boy, Albie. I'm so glad we had this talk."

She gets up and goes behind him and pushes him up to his desk. She places the Elder Wand on his desk in front of him. As she is heading out the door, she says, "Ta-ta, Albie. As always it was a pleasure. You'll be freed in about 20 minutes. Good day!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We leave the memory and laughed until there were tears. Draco was the first to speak. "You know once school was out she came to visit me, and told me if I hurt another muggle-born physically at school she would cut off my dangly bits."

I shake my head, "No, she didn't. Oh my God, she really did." I burst in to another round of laughter.

I stop and think for a moment. "You know after second year, nothing really happened to me that could be traced back to Dumbledore. Everything that happened to me at school was because I broke a rule or instigated it. I can't believe she threatened Dumbledore."

He gets serious, "I have something I need to tell you, but I'd like you to see more memories first."

I nod and walk over to the table and view the options. I look at some of the dates and set them aside because I know some of them already. I pull one out because I recognize the timing, but not what it would be.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

20 July, 1996

Ophelia's memory

We enter into the memory and Ophelia is standing in the doorway of the library we look over her shoulder and find a 16 year old Hermione sitting in a chair next to the CD player. The CD player is at full volume blaring Welcome to Jungle by Guns N Roses. Hermione has on a cropped black sports bra and short spandex shorts. She has a book sitting in her lap she keeps duplicating and throwing the copy into the fire and watching it burn. She has a tumbler with what appears to be firewhiskey next to her.

We get into the room and look at Ophelia. She's disguised as Viola and she has unshed tears in her eyes as she is watching Hermione. After about the fifth book is thrown into the fire, and the tumbler has been consumed, Viola steps onto the room and takes a seat next to Hermione in the settee. Hermione looks at her and fills the tumbler again and duplicates another book and throws it into the fire. Hermione takes another drink and Viola takes her tumbler away and powers off the CD player.

Viola reaches into her pocket and pulls out a vial. "Sober up."

Hermione takes the vial and throws it into the fire, "I'm fine."

Viola vanishes the firewhiskey and takes out another vial and sets it on the table. "You throw that one into the fire, I'll body bind you and force you to drink the next one. You are still on ten potions and shouldn't be drinking alcohol. Are we doing this or are you going to take that fucking potion?"

Hermione glares at her, folds her arms, and then turns to look into the fire. "I'm fine here. I'll be an adult in two months why does it matter if I drink or not. Apparently nothing fucking matters anyway."

Viola stands up and leans over the chair and stares Hermione down. "HERMIONE JEAN GRANGER, DRINK THAT FUCKING POTION NOW!

Hermione stands up and shoves Viola out of her way and starts to leave the room. Viola closes the door and locks it wandlessly, and Hermione turns around and screams, "LEAVE ME ALONE!"

Viola goes to her with the potion and says, "Never. Drink the potion, you and I are going to have a little chat."

Hermione goes back to her chair, and drinks the potion, and bursts into tears. Viola goes to her and hugs her. "Oh my sweet girl, I know you are hurting. We all miss Sirius. The last few weeks have been hard on all of us. I'm so proud of your hard work despite all the pain you have been in both mentally and physically."

Hermione straightens up, "Right, as long as I'm still doing all I can for Harry and The Order?"

Viola shakes her head. "No Hermione, this education is all for you, my dear. So you can succeed, my dear."

Hermione sniffles. "I miss him so much. I have to pretend it doesn't mean anything to me. It just hurts so much, and now I'm ugly." She shows her scar and cries some more.

Viola shakes her head, "My sweet, sweet girl. You could never be ugly if you tried. You are just as beautiful on the outside as you are on the inside. Nobody could ever call you ugly. Well, maybe Dolores Umbridge, they did just rescue her the other day from the centaurs. My genius, beautiful girl, I'm so proud of you. You went into a dangerous and quite stupid situation, and you lived. Please don't give up. We all love you so very much! I love you. Talk to me."

Hermione looks at her, and seems to contemplate everything she just said, "You love me?"

Viola laughs, "Of course I do. We have spent every day together for the last two years. You are not just a job, Hermione. Everyone here cares for you. Minerva, Remus, Tonks, and Andi. Next month, we are bringing in some Masters to help you learn. First we need to make sure you are healed, Love. I promise we are all here for you. We all miss Sirius too. You don't have to pretend here. Now tell me why have you been listening to that song for the last two hours?"

Hermione smiles, "It's how I feel about the wizarding world."

Very solemnly she sings the lyrics, "Welcome to the jungle, we have fun and games. We got everything you want, honey, we know all the names. We are the people that can find everything you need. If you got the money, honey, we got your disease. In the jungle, welcome to the jungle. Watch it bring you to your knees, knees. Mwah, I, I wanna watch you bleed." (A/N Footnote 2)

Viola gives Hermione a hug, "If anyone makes you bleed, love, I will end them. That's a song for someone who doesn't belong in the world they enter. You, Hermione Granger belong only to this world."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We leave the pensive and I pull the memory and put the memory back in the vial and set it aside with the others we have already viewed. She tried to tell me then why I was being educated, but I was being a dramatic, spoiled brat. Draco is at the bar taking a drink of firewhiskey, and I walk over to him and grab a shot. I look at him and he looks bothered. I ask, "What? What aren't you saying?"

He looks at me and says. "There is a lot I need to tell you, but Hermione you need to see more. I think you're just beginning to understand the depths of everything she did for you. Mulciber and Dolohov both went missing the summer of '96. They were never found."

I look at him, "Wait…What?!"