DISCLAIMER. None of the characters used are a creation of mine. They belong solely to JK Rowling.
Hermione had once again sought solace under her willow. Despite it being a summer morning in the middle of July the forest surrounding the Lestrange manor was as cool as ever.
Tuning out everything else, Hermione chose to focus on the sounds of her breathing. In and out. In and out. In and out.
She would start her second year next month. She would hope for Harry to be among the first years with Reggie. She would hope to be reunited with her other half.
The soft wind ruffled her hair as she created circles with her fingers in the grass. How peaceful it felt here, away from the world. Away from the darkness.
If only she could stay here forever as the morning sun warmed her back and the billowing grass nuzzled into her face with dewdrops still tangled within. Her heart slowed down as she breathed in the scent of wildflowers.
She wished she could have shared this serenity inside her with Sirius. Merlin knew he would need every bit of peace this summer and the coming ones. He would need it for as long as he stayed with his mother.
She was broken out of the dullness that had suddenly seeped in by an idea so ridiculously innocent she had to remind herself she was well into her twenties. She giggled unceremoniously and got up on her feet. Brushing off the wetness on her white cotton dress Hermione wandered deeper into the trees and collected every flower she came upon. Flowers of all kind with petals of the most vibrant shades. Summer really was beautiful.
Despite having always had a fondness for the snow and the chilled rains of winter, there was just something about how nature came alive in the heat of the summer and had momentarily brightened the fogginess inside Hermione's heart.
She tucked in the violet midsummer orchid flowers in the seams of the hat she had been wearing. Some virgin white lilies here and there and some honeysuckle in the middle. The bluebell and the foxglove rose above all the rest.
Hermione laughed at her own childish whims and humming she walked inside with her, the flowers in her hat swaying in the wind.
As she entered the manor and made her way to the dining hall there was a skip in her step that hadn't been there since the war had broken out back at the end of her sixth year.
Papa glanced at her from where he sat and quietly cast a charm on the flowers to make them stay fresh and alive for as long as Hermione wanted.
He commented, 'A little something for you to keep with you for as long as you live.'
'I will keep you with me for as long as I live,' she said to him cheekily.
Papa boomed with laughter so carefree Hermione had to pat his back.
Rab joined in the delighted atmosphere. 'You look angelic.'
Hermione positively glowed, 'Thank you, Rab.'
Conversation flowed as the Lestrange family dug in.
'The Oakswood heir is gaining name for his family in Britain.'
Rab queried, 'I thought the Oakswoods preferred to restrict their royalty to the North. What brings them here?'
'Stephen Oakswood and his father had been quite secretive, yes. But it seems as if his son has other ideas. He has already spread their business in the country. I have personally entered into some business deliberations with the boy myself. He is a remarkable young wizard. Since his father's death last year the boy has done wonders for the family. Stephen would be proud.'
Rab nodded in approval. 'It would be wise to partner with him. He seems he would make a valuable addition to the Corporation.'
Hermione ignored the rest of the conversation as she had no interest whatsoever in how the family business was run.
Soon after she had finished with breakfast she left for the library as the two men continued their discussion in the parlour.
She called, 'Blinky!'
Blinky appeared instantly and bowed her head. 'Missy Hermy! How can Blinky help her Missy?'
'Can you please bring me a cup of tea?'
Blinky clapped her hands and disapparated.
Hermione wandered through the aisles looking for something that would catch her eye. When a silverish hue blinded her Hermione stood on her tiptoes to gather the books that were glinting in the sunlight coming from the large overhead window.
Hermione lost her balance and fell down into a heap, her back pushing in on the wall behind and clattering onto the lantern holder studded into it.
With a heavy resounding sound Hermione's eyes grew wide as she witnessed the wall that had been behind her vanish into thin air. In its place appeared a doorway. She pushed it inside and stepped into a dusty old room except it wasn't one. It was a long lobby lines by two shelves on either side.
The lobby seemed to go on forever.
Hermione looked behind her to see that the door had sealed itself shut. She started on her way inside and read the titles that were housed in the shelf.
She didn't have to go through the labels to feel the extremely evil magic that hung in the air. It practically screamed dark magic.
Hermione stared at the books around her in awe. However dark they may be this was a fountain of knowledge that she could not ignore. Moreover who knew what tiny little spell she learnt here could help save her life.
Books on ancient magic onto her right spoke of Merlin's inventions. There were also some handwritten journals. She was itching to dig in but she would make an inventory in her mind first. Books on folklore and monsters forever lost in time also adorned the shelves.
Books on fairies and how to summon them. Books on the fae and their magic. Books on bedlam and lores of merpeople. Books on the subtle art of divination. (Hermione scoffed.) Books on destroying vampires. Books on bending the minds werewolves to do your bidding.
Hermione frowned. The last two titles would prove useful. Tom would soon begin to bring over the creatures shunned by the Ministry over to his side. And it wouldn't hurt to take away from Greyback his free will.
She quickly pulled out the two books. She wondered where she could sit for the lobby, as far as she could see, had no end. And the walls were lined with the shelves with no breaks in between.
There was a sudden pop and Blinky appeared carrying a pot of tea. Seeing where she was Blinky began shaking her head violently.
'Missy Hermy. She mustn't be here. It's a dark dark place. Very dark.'
Hermione asked, 'Am I not allowed in here?'
'Nit everyone is. The room senses the magic inside you. But Missy must inform Master Lestrange. Master will know soon enough.'
Hermione placated the elf, 'I will be okay, Blinky. But you shan't tell anyone about me being here. Please? I will reveal my presence here to Papa myself.'
Blinky looked at her with bafflement on her face. She reluctantly nodded.
'Can you conjure a couch for me, Blinky? And a desk perhaps. For the tea?'
Blinky obliged and left her alone in the hidden library.
Hermione settled in for the day and began reading, pouring over the text that provided an in depth knowledge of the various incantations she could use to control a werewolf and the wandwork required. She practiced as she read and had learned five different ways of doing so in the short duration of seven hours.
She then moved onto how to kill vampires and best their quick reflexes that often rendered wizards and witches quite inadept when faced with one.
Halfway through the book Hermione got up. She carried the books back to their shelves and made a mental note of their position.
This was how the holidays passed.
It would take her quite a bit of time to find the books she needed for the library kept changing their location. It even went as far as changing its structural designs and architecture. To have been in the presence of such strong magic made Hermione giddy with joy.
She often spent her days in the hidden lobby researching various dark spells. She had already been through three huge books on horcruxes. Each detailed the gory process of how they were made but as for how to destroy them, Hermione's knowledge about it was still limited to the use of Fiendfyre or basilisk venom.
She had strengthened her ability in casting protective wards even going as far as learning some blood wards. They would be useful when the war started. She had learned how to repel intruders and detect the presence of liars.
Perfecting the Fidelius Charm had been quite the difficult task. So far she had only managed the incantation. The translation of the runes itself has taken her five full days. The wandwork was even more complex. She had mastered the history of goblins and the history of house elf magic.
She had even begun learning how a wizard can fly without the use of a broomstick. Much like wandless magic a very strong wizard could surpass the usage of a broomstick which served merely as a medium for the concentrating one's flying ability as a wand is the medium for casting spells. Flying is inherent to a wizard's blood as is magic.
This would be a neat trick. She remembered only Voldemort and Snape had managed to equip themselves of this art back in her time.
Despite her fear of flying she was willing to try this particular spell. It would make escaping so much easier in case she ever landed someplace with anti apparition wards.
She had already covered the basics but it would take another two years to actually implement the long process to perfect it. She would need to meditate daily and cast severam spells and prepare various potions to douse her body with.
She had made detailed notes and had charmed them against intruders.
The morning of September first Papa asked her to stay behind for a while after wishing luck to Rab. Hermione knew why.
Rab looked confused but silently obliged and carried both his and Hermione's trunk inside the train after shrinking them. She envied the fact that he had come of age and could now freely use magic.
Papa took her aside where nobody could see or hear them and looked deep into her eyes. He cast several spells to ward off anybody trying to eavesdrop.
'Child, I know how you have spent the summer reading. I wouldn't need the house elves to tell me. The manor is built on strong magic, 'Mi.' He answered her silent question.
Hermione had the grace of looking guilty. 'I was going to come to you. But I got so carried away.'
'Don't you worry. I don't blame you. Your thirst for knowledge is quite reminiscent of your mother. Besides, I need no proof telling me you would never use what you have learnt to cause harm.'
He chortled, 'Moreover, seeing as you are an exceptionally headstrong witch I couldn't possibly ever stop you from doing what you had set your mind to.'
'Papa, I will never break your trust. That place is a goldmine. I just couldn't ignore it.'
He nodded gravely. 'Make sure nobody learns of its presence. It's an old family secret and you haven't yet come across the most relevant texts yet. Some of them are originals penned by Merlin himself and even Salazar Slytherin. Our ancestors were highly skilled in magic. They have left us many a secrets. The library appears only to the most worthy of the Lestrange men and women. You invoked very strong blood magic the day you stumbled in there. This is great responsibility, Hermione.'
'So that's how you got to know.' She surmised. 'Does Rolf know? Or Rab?'
'No. Not even your father did. And before me, only my great-great grandfather had known its whereabouts.'
'I shan't tell anyone about it, Papa. But what happens when the manor passes onto Rolf. Merlin forbid if it happened while the Dark Lord still reins.. he would be privy to such dark magic. He would become unstoppable.'
'The Lord of the House doesn't become suddenly privy to the room's existence. Even when Rolf takes over the manor only you shall be able to enter the room. It relieves me so to know that such knowledge will never be misused by that corrupted boy.'
Hermione smiled in sympathy and kissed the top of his hand. She knew he had been hurting at the loss of his eldest grandson.
'I must leave now, Papa. I shall see you come Christmas.'
Papa waved at her as she went.
She saw that Rab had deposited her trunk in the compartment she usually shared with Severus. He was currently sitting inside telling Lily all about the programme he had been a part of over the summer. But Hermione didn't care to participate.
She set out determinedly on her hunt. She peeped into each compartment searching for messy black hair. She did spot some where the Marauders were seated laughing wildly at something Remus had just said.
She was glad to see that Sirius' spirits hadn't been dampened by whatever he had suffered through at his mother's hands.
She had even stumbled across Reggie with some other first years looking as calm as ever. But Hermione knew that he was incredibly anxious. The day would probably end with him losing his brother's trust.
She walked farther ahead and almost reached the end. Looking into the last compartment and finding a flustered looking Frank Longbottom going over his herbology homework, Hermione slumped against the wall. A lone tear escaped her eyes.
He's not here.