Author Note: Another collaboration between R&R. Developed from the challenge by Kevin Finkel of Facebook fame. This is a retelling of the Harry Potter first book but with Hermione as the Girl who lived and Harry as the brainy bookworm. Along with a few other minor changes. The story will essentially follow the book so there may be words and phrases from the books. The further into the story we go the more it will deviate from the main book but not too far. ALL characters, concepts, ideas, words phrases, letters and punctuation are the property of others or were developed for public use. J.K. Rowling is the creator and source of all of Harry Potter. That is all.
…...(Begin)
Minerva McGonnagal sat outside of a small house in the most depressing housing development she had ever seen. The muggles had seemed to go out of their way to ensure that all individuality, creativity or uniqueness was crushed and driven from the neighborhood of Arcadia Suffolk.
The reason she was sitting outside this particular house, on this particular cold early November first was to observe the family within. Claude and Ophelia Smythe were muggles. They were not just muggles but the epitome of muggles in Minerva's opinion. She had been here since late yesterday afternoon when she had heard the bittersweet news.
Daniel and Emmaline Granger had been killed by the dark lord himself in their home. Betrayed by Daniel's blood brother Sirius Black in a cruel and unexpected twist. They had managed to destroy the dark lord but their daughter, their sole heir, Hermione had been left orphaned under mysterious circumstances.
Dumbledore had sent Minerva to observe and protect the Smythes while he took the child to a healer for treatment. Minerva would have frowned if her feline face allowed it. Albus had been insistent on bringing the girl here. No matter what Minerva said. He would not be swayed in this plan, nor would he explain it.
She perked up as the street lights began to go out one by one. Sensing someone approaching she shifted posture but retained her feline form.
"Ahh Minerva. Good morning." Albus said walking out of the shadows.
Minerva shifted upwards to human with a scowl on her face, "That was a subtle entrance. You should be glad no one is awake yet."
"Yes I know." Albus smiled beatifically, like a seventies disco father Christmas.
"Where is the child?" Minerva asked him. She was not in a mood to deal with his eccentricities.
"Hagrid will be bringing her. I felt it best to keep her hidden for the day, too many people are in too high of spirits to move her publicly." Albus explained with a sigh.
"Hagrid? Is it wise to trust him with something of this importance?" Minerva looked aghast.
"Minerva, I would trust him with my life." Albus reassured her.
Minerva scowled, "Still Albus. These people. They are the worst sort of muggles imaginable. The husband works as an accountant while she prattles on all day, fawning over their precious daughter who will come to a bad end no doubt."
"She must come here. This is the last home of her blood family. She will be safe nowhere else." Albus intoned, "Trust me Minerva. If I had any other options I would take that road."
Minerva glared at him as she heard the roar of a motorcycle coming. Pursing her lips at how much disruption they were causing in this quiet neighborhood she only hoped they would not arouse too much suspicion.
Hagrid rolled to a stop in front of the house. He had the baby in a sling across his broad chest.
"Hullo Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonnagal. She was a right pleasure to fly with. She fell sound asleep somewhere over Wessex." Hagrid proudly said.
"That is good Hagrid. You have done well. Now it is time."
Hagrid handed the wrapped bundle over with several sniffles as he began to cry.
"There, there Hagrid. Its not really goodbye, merely farewell for a time." Albus said as he laid the bundle on the doorstep with a warming charm and a note pinned, addressed to Ophelia Smythe.
"Farewell and good luck, Hermione Granger."
…...
It was the middle of July in 1991 and Hermione Granger was awoken by the pounding on her bedroom door. Technically it was the door to the hall cupboard that was tucked under the stairs. A small mattress sat on the floor with a thin blanket that barely covered her and a flat, lumpy, pillow to rest her head on. The only light in the room came through the vent in the door and cracks between the stairs.
She sighed as she stretched and reached for her glasses. The world, sad as it was, came into focus as she gathered her clothes from the small chest that was tucked into the end of the cupboard.
At least they had not locked the door this morning Hermione thought as she heard the dulcet tones of her uncle Claude congratulating her cousin Brandy on her birthday. The spoiled little brat Brandy, Hermione derisively thought as she entered the kitchen. She would never voice those kinds of comments if she didn't want slapped hard enough to see stars though.
"About time you showed up. Now finish the breakfast. I want to make sure Brandy doesn't have a problem with her special day." Her aunt Ophelia hissed as she dragged Hermione towards the stove.
Hermione concentrated on cooking as her cousin had a complete meltdown over not having as many presents as last year. She had wanted the Barbie Dream house and the Barbie this and the Barbie that. Which made Hermione gag as she already had at least a dozen or more of the stupid things. Many of them broken and naked. Hermione had been graciously "gifted" one last year that was missing an arm that her cousin had burned a lightning bolt into its forehead with a hot match.
Hermione finished cooking breakfast, noticing that her aunt made sure Brandy got the sausages that should have been on Hermione's plate as usual Hermione frowned and ate her toast and the one egg she was at least allowed.
The phone rang and judging by the expression on her uncle's face when he hung up the news was not good. He had made several gruff comments and finally slammed the phone down.
"We'll have to take her with us today." Uncle Claude declared in a disgusted voice.
"WHAT! NOOOO!" her cousin dramatically shrieked. "I don't want it along. Make it stay home!" She wailed.
Hermione was used to being called it. Amazingly that was one of the nicer things they called her, freak, the thing, the girl. She had not even known her own name when she went to school as they never used it.
"We can't. How do we know that she won't do something to the place while we're gone." Ophelia grumped.
"Alright baby-doll. We'll make sure the Girl doesn't disrupt your big day. Okay?" Her uncle cooed while shooting daggers from his eyes at Hermione.
"She better not." Brandy snottily declared.
…...
Hermione had been forced to ride in the very back of her parents Vauxhaul. Her cousin and her friend Polly "too pretty to be seen with the freak" King shoving her into the door so often that her uncle stopped and made Hermione get into the cargo bay and lay down under a blanket.
At the zoo they at least relented and allowed her to walk along with them like she was a person just walking the same direction as them.
She watched as her uncle bought Brandy and her friend a triple scoop in a sugar cone with great longing. Her uncle sighed as he noticed a strange looking fellow in a purple suit and top hat standing by the corner talking to the fire extinguisher it seemed like watching him. Reluctantly he bought Hermione a single scoop in a regular cone.
Savoring the ice cold treat she nodded and wandered off towards the reptile house. Watching the brightly colored snakes lazily sunning themselves she stopped by a brilliant blue one and smiled. She loved the color blue because it reminded her of the sky. She would have amazing dreams of flying through the sky while being held by someone. A man she could almost remember.
"You're very pretty." She said to the snake.
The snake raised its head and looked at her curiously.
Hermione blinked as she had never encountered a snake before, "Can you hear me?"
The snake's head bobbed up and down briefly.
Smiling Hermione then looked around quickly, she knew her aunt and uncle hated it whenever something strange or unusual happened around her. "I'm sorry. But I'm not supposed to do weird things. I suppose talking to a snake might be considered weird."
The snake shook its head side to side and climbed its branch to get closer to the window.
"You must be lonely in there. Trapped and put on display for people to gawk at all day." She sadly said.
The snake used its tail to point towards a sign beside the window. Hermione read, "Incredibly Deadly Viper bred in captivity by Dr. M. Montgomery. Oh. That's very sad. I bet you'd like to go away."
The snake nodded its head as Hermione heard a shrill squeal that was far too familiar.
"Mum Dad look at this one!" Hermione heard, "Its performing tricks!"
Hermione was shoved roughly to the side as her ice cream cone landed on the floor. She glared at her cousin who had her face pressed to the glass. A pane of glass that was there and then suddenly wasn't. Brandy fell forward into the enclosure's water.
The snake slithered off of the branch and onto the floor, passing close by Hermione she heard it hiss "Ssankssss" before it made for the floor drain in the center of the room.
By the time Hermione had turned back to see what had happened to her cousin the window pane had returned and Brandy was beating on it,all while screaming at the top of her lungs.
…...
The trip back to the house had been a horrible wait as her Uncle had been forced to repress his anger while in public. The desire to appear perfectly normal overrode everything else.
Entering the house she tried to quickly run for her cupboard but felt his rough hands grab her arm and fling her against the wall. "WHY DID YOU ATTACK! BRANDY! LIKE! THAT!" He screamed into her face as he shoved her against the wall with each word.
"I didn't do anything. The glass just vanished like magic!" She said then instantly regretted it. The M word must never be spoken in their presence. They did not even like watching shows about it on the telly.
Her uncle picked her up and kicking the cupboard door open threw her bodily onto her mattress. Slamming the door she heard it lock. "You can just stay in there and think about the consequences of your actions!" He sneered then stomped off.
Hermione sighed in the gloomy darkness and wondered how long she would be locked in this time.
…...
It was a week until her birthday. She only knew what day it was because of her school telling her. She was cooking breakfast when the bell rang signifying they had post on this fine Wednesday. Brandy had recovered greatly after her traumatic ordeal at the zoo, the extra presents and candy had certainly helped.
Since her aunt and uncle were admiring Brandy modeling her new uniform for Saint Phillips private school for girls, Hermione was sent to get the post. Something Hermione was glad to do as she was facing going to Pridemore public school. A place according to Brandy and her friends that was for the bad kids and the dregs of society.
Picking the envelopes off of the floor she saw one that was odd. It seemed to be made using very old paper and sealed with wax, the address was written in a brilliant green ink and said, 'Miss Hermione Granger, Cupboard Under the Stairs, #4 Poplar Lane. Suffolk."
Hermione had stood so still in shock, for so long her cousin had been sent to see what was going on. She felt the precious envelope that had been addressed to her ripped from her hands by her snotty cousin.
"Mum! It has a letter!" Brandy shouted.
Hermione grabbed her hair shouting, "That's mine. Give it to me!"
A stinging slap across the face made Hermione let go of her cousin as her uncle took the letter. When he saw the address he paled and handed it unopened to his wife. She looked at the envelope with such disdain Hermione felt a shiver run through her.
Ophelia took the letter to the stove and igniting the corner watched it burn in a pan that she then threw in the garbage. With a triumphant snort she said, "That'll be enough of that."
…...
Hermione did not know what was going on but she had been moved from under the stairs to Brandy's second room. A small bedroom that the family mainly used for storage. She had a real bed finally and while the door still had a lock on the outside she at least had enough room to get up and move around. Plus a window she could look out at the sky through.
Coming down to breakfast she heard the postman arrive and waited to see if her uncle or aunt would order her to retrieve whatever had been left. When her uncle got it himself she shrugged trying to forget the fact that she had briefly held a real letter addressed to herself.
He stomped back into the room showing her aunt two letters. Two identical letters to the one from yesterday. Hermione quivered with excitement, maybe they would let her have one of them?
Only they took both of them and destroyed them as well. Her aunt looked like she was going to be sick though as she kept staring out of the window.
…...
The third day Hermione decided she would try to wait outside for the postman only to find her uncle sitting on the front step when she opened the door. Eight letters arrived on that day.
Saturday had sixteen letter come flying through the front post slot. Hermione's uncle scooped all of them off of the floor before Hermione could grab even one of them.
Sunday her uncle sat at the breakfast table calm and relaxed. He was smiling and happy, although her aunt was glancing worriedly down the entry hall towards the front door.
"Relax my dear Ophelia. Its Sunday. There is no post on Sunday so we are safe." Hermione's uncle said giving her a Stepford smile.
At that moment a sudden rushing sound from the front door occurred as thirty two letters launched themselves through the mail slot. Hermione raced towards them as her uncle shoved himself out of his chair. Her cousin sensing that her parents did not want Hermione to have any of the letters tackled Hermione from behind causing her to fall on the floor. The letters went into the fireplace and were reduced to ash.
"That does it. We are going on HOLIDAY!" Her uncle shouted.
Monday morning before they could leave the house sixty four letters came sliding through the slot. Hermione was held by her stronger, better fed cousin, so was unable to acquire any of them. She did get a split lip from stomping on her cousin's toes to try and escape her grasp. No one noticed as any sign of the lip being injured had faded before they had even left Suffolk.
By Monday night they had arrived at a seedy hotel in a run down gritty industrial town. Hermione found this entire trip a strange adventure that was certain not normal. What, or whom, was behind these letters certainly seemed determined to contact her and she contemplated asking her aunt. The thing that stopped her was that her aunt kept searching the skies and jumped at every little sound. Anyone who looked odd or strange was a figure to be shunned. So Hermione kept her peace as she did not know what reaction she would have received.
Tuesday morning the towel her uncle had stuffed under the door was blown aside by the force of over a hundred letters entering the room at high speed. These letters circled and danced as she tried to grab one before being tackled by her cousin and her uncle as her aunt tried not to scream in terror.
They rapidly packed and left the hotel room with all of the letters soaking in a water filled tub. Their strange and sudden journey ended after multiple random changes of directions and a brief encounter with the constable of one small village her uncle had driven too rapidly through, at a small island. On this island was a stone house that had been built quite a long time ago. Unfortunately it had not been fixed in a very long time either. Brandy laid on the couch while Hermione tried to find a dry and clean place on the floor.
Night had fallen and Hermione realized this was her birthday the next morning. She would be eleven and hiding in a run down stone shack on an island off the coast. She was cold, she was hungry and she was sad.
Drawing a birthday cake in the thick dust of the floor she wished that someone would come and take her away. Evan an orphanage would be better than this life. She blew the dusty candles away and curled up hoping to sleep enough to have a happy dream.
There was a sudden pounding on the door, as if a giant fist was gently rapping on it. The knocks were apparently stronger than the hinges it seemed as the door fell into the room with a great thud that shook the walls.
A huge beast stepped into the room out of the pre-dawn shadows. He was wider than the door frame and tall enough for his wild mane of hair to brush the ceiling Hermione noticed. She hid behind her cousin hoping that the creature would eat her first.
"Sorry bout that. Guess the door wasn't quite up to snuff now wassit?" The man said with a polite smile as he tried to fit the broken door back into its frame.
Brandy at that point decided to scream shrilly. Her aunt and uncle had already been coming down the stairs when she did that. "What's all this? WHO ARE YOU?" Uncle Claude demanded as he brought an ancient shotgun to his shoulder.
"Here now, that's rather rude." The giant said grabbing the shotgun from her uncle with a single yank, before bending the barrel into a U shape. "Ya shouldna oughta point things like that at others."
"Now. Hullo Hermione. No need to be scairt." He smiled, bright white teeth shining through a thick beard and mustache. "I'm a friend."
He held his hand out towards brandy when he said that causing her cousin to back closer to Hermione.
"I'm not Hermione she is!" Brandy declared forcibly throwing Hermione in front of herself.
"Well o course you are. I recognize yer mother's eyes anywhere." The man said warmly.
"Who are you?" Hermione repeated her uncle's question, only in a softer and more curious tone.
"Oh. Right. Ah I am Rubeus Hagrid. Keeper of Keys and Grounds, as well as Gameskeeper at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." He said drawing himself up proudly, only to thunk his head on the beam above him causing him to grab his head and mutter something Hermione was certain her aunt would not approve of.
Hermione giggled slightly, "That's a funny name for a school."
"Eh? I suppose it is. Certainly a mouthful. Oh that reminds me." He said suddenly digging through the pockets of his huge oilskin coat. Finally he found one of the envelopes she had been wanting so desperately. He held it out to her in a hand the size of a dinner plate.
She looked into his eyes as he nodded for her to take it. Holding the envelope she half expected her cousin or her aunt and uncle to try and steal it from her. They seemed to be cowed by the visitor to their hut so she broke the seal and began to read.
"I've been been accepted to this school?" She looked up in confusion. "But why?"
"Yer a witch Hermione. And a right fine one if yer like yer parents any. Once you get trained up a bit." he declared.
Hermione had been called many things before but never a witch. She looked puzzled at Hagrid before her aunt screeched in her shrill voice.
"NO! I will not have her go to that place. My sister went there and she died because of it." Her aunt suddenly declared forcefully. "I'll not have my niece be murdered like that. Not by those animals."
"What? You told me my mum died in a car crash." Hermione scowled angrily.
"A car crash? A CAR CRASH!" Hagrid seemed to grow angrier than a person that big should be. He spun on her aunt, "Here now. Claiming a car crash killed Dan and Emma Granger is a load of cotswollap and you know it."
"We won't have her go to that place. Not to be taught those cheap carnival tricks and sideshow legerdemain by some crackpot." Claude growled. He did seem to be a little bit hesitant in his declaration as his wife clung to him.
Ophelia chimed in. "We swore we would make her normal so she's not going and that's final."
Hagrid had drawn a large pink umbrella and pointed it at her aunt. Hermione wondered why her aunt suddenly recoiled from the harmless looking device, even if it was being pointed at her by a ten foot tall hairy man who looked angry enough to eat them. "If I ever hear the words that's final come from yer lips Ophelia Smythe they will be."
"You can't scare us. We have rights. We're loyal subjects of the crown and we will not be treated like this!" Claude stammered excitedly.
"Oh go and dry up Smythe." Hagrid turned to the fireplace and with a couple of jabs the fire was roaring warmly. A wave of the umbrella and the couch was soft and dry.
"Here now Hermione. I brought you something else." Hagrid said dismissing her relatives as if they were yesterday's tuna cans. Digging through his pockets again he pulled out a well wrapped item that proved to be a birthday cake.
"For me?" Hermione asked, never having had a cake of her own before.
"Well its not everyday that yer little lady turns eleven now is it?" he said handing her the cake.
Hermione sat beside him on the couch, "What did you mean when you said I would be like my parents?"
"Dan and Emma were two of the best students the school had produced in many a year. They were head boy and girl you know."
"Oh yes. Mum and dad were so proud of the witch in our family. Going off to that crazy school,coming back with her all of her wild stories. It was disgusting the way they fawned over their precious little freak!" Ophelia spat viciously.
Hagrid leapt up again, not minding his head which caused the floor overhead to crack as he glared at Ophelia, "Here now! You be minding yer manners when talking about people I knew and cared about!"
"An ogre like you having feelings. Bah. Inconceivable." Claude declared.
Hagrid was about to say something when he noticed Brandy was hurriedly trying to scrape the icing off of Hermione's cake. He spun his umbrella and a burst of light struck Brandy. A long curly pigs tail sprouted causing her to squeal in surprise. Grabbing her backside she ran for her mum who pulled the girl close as the three Smythes retreated upstairs.
Hermione laughed in delight to see her vicious cousin finally get something bad happening to her.
"Here now. I'd be appreciatin it if ye didna mention that to anyone when we get away from here. Strictly speaking I'm not supposed ta do stuff like tha." Hagrid whispered conspiratorially.
Hermione nodded as she felt her mind swirl with questions. Here was someone who knew her parents. Who could explain what had happened. Before she could ask a single question a chime sounded from Hagrid's coat.
Reaching in to pull a pocket watch the size of a wall clock out he frowned, "Right we're running late already. I'll see to it ye get another cake soon enough. Best grab yer things and come along now."
Hermione stood up, adjusting her glasses she said, "This is pretty much all I have."
Hagrid looked at her carefully, then with a shrug said, "Well its a good thing we're going to the alley then."
Hermione followed him outside as he set the door to the side of the room. Outside in the earliest hours of the dawn sat a brilliant motorcycle and sidecar. Hermione had dreams about this vehicle. She gazed in wonder as the dream sat in front of her.
Approaching it with some trepidation she sat in the sidecar, putting the helmet on she braced herself as Hagrid kicked the engine into life and then they were flying. They were flying for real and all other thoughts left her mind as the bike soared skyward.
…...
They arrived in London just before lunch which Hermione's stomach reminded her by growling loudly. Hagrid chuckled, "We can stop at the Leaky Cauldron and get a bite of summtin."
"What's the Leaky Cauldron?"
"Its a pub. The gateway betwixt the muggle world and our world, the magical one." The large man said leading the way from the parking garage, "Best ta wait til we get in there to ask anything else."
Hermione nodded. She didn't want to make him angry or abandon her. She quietly followed him as they headed for a small unmarked door set into the solid wall of shops and structures. Gasping when as they got closer, a sign sprung out from the wall that had a cauldron dripping from its bottom painted on it. The door had changed from a unremarkable steel one to a wooden one with a brass handle.
Entering the pub it seemed everyone knew Hagrid as they shouted his name and raised pint glasses in salute to him. What surprised Hermione even more was the whispers involving her name that started up.
"Ahright. Ahright. Don't be crowding her. Yes its her. C'mon mate. Have a bit o respect for the young lass and give her some room." Hagrid growled as they made their way through the crowded pub.
"OH sorry bout that perfessor." She heard Hagrid say as he almost ran down a slender nervous looking man in a funny turban.
"ooh th-thats alright Hagrid." the man stammered then looked at Hermione with a curious grin, "I suppose y-your a bit distracted."
"Aye. Taking the young miss to get her school thing. Ermione this is perfesser Quirrel. He'll be one o yer teachers this year."
Hermione tried to remember the proper greeting and smiled at the slender man, holding her hand out she said, "Hello sir."
"h-he-llo. I'll be t-tt-eaching D-ddefense. Not that you need much of that c-cc-lass eh?" he laughed awkwardly as he shook her hand. It felt clammy and light like he was not wanting to press his luck touching her.
Hermione wasn't sure about the skinny man with the nervous twitch. His eyes seemed to be constantly darting around but she wanted to remain polite so said, "I suppose I would still have a great deal to learn sir."
"Well w-w-w-w-we look forward to see-see-sing you there th-then." He managed to stammer before turning and scuttling back into the crowd.
"Alright you lot. Time to get us moving onward." Hagrid declared taking Hermione's shoulder and guiding her through the trough he made in the crowd.
"I thought we were going to get some lunch?" Hermione protested as they entered a bricked in courtyard.
"Oh and we will. Just not in there. The food's tolerable, iffen you can eat it before it eats you, just the crowd is a bit thick right now." Hagrid said distractedly as he looked at this one section of wall that had a curious set of stained bricks on it. Before Hermione could ask more Hagrid seemed to remember something and tapped the wall with his umbrella in a pattern.
Hermione's eyes grew wide as she watched the bricks shift and dissolve to reveal a tall wide arched entrance way.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley." Hagrid proudly waved his hand like he owned the place.
Hermione slowly walked into the shopping district with her mouth agape. There were a motley collection of buildings that ranged from Victorian brick storefronts to what might have been medieval stone structures with some wood and wattle in between. The alley was narrow enough a cart might be able to squeeze through but only if the pedestrians budged over to make room.
And the people walking along were even more eclectic than the buildings. People that looked like they would have been at home in a fantasy book to someone she thought she had seen at Asda. She froze and tried not to laugh when she saw a man wearing incredibly loud flowered shirt over an obviously woman's skirt with a black leather trench coat over the entire ensemble.
Hagrid tapped her shoulder and led her deeper into the throng, pointing out various shops along the way where they would be getting her school supplies.
"Hagrid. How am I supposed to pay for all of the things on this list?" she suddenly realized that the signs in the shop had some strange currency listed, not that it mattered as she didn't even have a penny in her pocket.
"Well I'll get yer lunch but all o yore money is there." He said pointing a large hand at a tall gleaming white stone building that seemed part fortress and part work of art. "Gringotts Bank. Only place e'en more safer would be Hogwarts itself."
Hermione nodded as she followed Hagrid into a small shop that had several tables on an outside patio in front of it. Inside she found her mouth watering as the smell of food and ice cream all blended together in a divine scent.
"Here we are. Hullo Florean. This young miss would like a hot dog some chips and a sundae fer her lunch." Hagrid said when they reached the counter, "Plus a fizzy ta drink. And i'll have a deluxe cone."
Hermione looked at the older kindly gentleman behind the counter. He had a ring of wispy gray hair peeking out from under a paper hat, small silver glasses, and a thin mustache over a broad smile.
"Well oh my stars. Is this her?"
"Aye tis. But no need ta make a fuss now." Hagrid warned.
"Oh of course not. Its my honor and pleasure Miss. Go ahead and take a seat and I'll bring it right over." He said.
Hagrid and Hermione sat in the corner looking through the wide windows at the people going about their business.
"Why does everyone seem to know me?" Hermione finally asked.
"Because yer famous. Yer the one who defeat him." Hagrid said.
"Who?"
"Eh?" Hagrid looked at her in confusion, "Wha do ya mean who?"
"Who is it that I'm supposed to have defeated. I was never told." She honestly replied.
"Er well now." Hagrid scowled, "Yer aunt and uncle never told you abou tha either now?"
Hermione shook her head as the Florean person brought her lunch. He had a towering wide sugar cone filled with all sorts of things on the ice cream along with her order. She was torn between wanting to be polite and tearing into the food so when Hagrid nodded at her like he was expecting it she began to swiftly eat. The sugar from the large triple fudge sundae hitting her head with a buzzing explosion caused her to slow down briefly but the cold lemon lime bubbling drink tickled her nose enough to make her feel better.
"This is incredible!" She crowed causing the ice cream man to laugh in happiness.
"I'm glad you enjoy young miss. If you want more please just come and ask for me." He said before heading to take care of some more customers.
In between bites she looked at Hagrid expectantly, "So since they never told me could you tell me who it was I defeated?"
Hagrid frowned, "I'm not exacly appy ta say hiz name. Not many are. He was a right terror. Saying hiz name wahs like calling down the devil isself."
Hermione wasn't sure if this was an exaggeration or the truth as she did not see how a mere baby could have defeated someone like that. She let Hagrid speak at his own pace though.
Hagrid took a deep breath then said, "Alright. I'll say it jest this wunce. Hiz name was." He braced himself, "Voldemort." Hagrid looked like he had run from Scotland to London he had paled that much from the effort.
Hermione sat staring at Hagrid as she ate her food. Shaking her head she shrugged to indicate she had never heard of him.
Hagrid mumbled something under his breath that made Hermione glad her aunt hadn't heard him. She had a strange obsession over not saying certain words and so far Hagrid had said almost all of them.
"Right. Well he was a horrible dark wizard. He and his followers wanted to rule and anyone that stood in their way was just vermin to them. Folks like meself especially." Hagrid frowned, "Yer parents, they were part of a group that helped fight these folks. That's why he targeted them, he targeted you too."
"And I defeated him?" Hermione asked in disbelief.
"Aye. The details o that night are a mit bit fuzzy." Hagrid confessed, "Ye can ask the perfessor when we get ta the castle. He'll be able to help you more."
Hermione nodded. Hagrid seemed like a nice enough person and she liked him but would have to find someone else to tell her more.
"Aren't you going to get anything to eat?" Hermione asked finishing her hot dog. Although she noticed that Hagrid's large ice cream cone had been eaten in several bites.
"I'll grab a bite while yer getting some of your supplies." he said grinning.
…...
Having had two more hot dogs and another fizzy drink Hermione felt full and happy for once. Following Hagrid into the bank though she regretted the food as the beings within made her very nervous causing her stomach to clench as she drew closer to Hagrid, "Hagrid what are these?" She managed to stop from saying things. Maybe her aunt had rubbed off on her a little bit she had to admit.
"These er Goblins. They can be nasty folks if ye cross em so best ta stay on their good side."
She nodded as they stepped up to a lectern with a particularly phlegmatic looking one gazing down at them.
"Miss Hermione Granger wishes to make a withdrawal." Hagrid announced enunciating his words carefully.
The Goblin looked down his long thin nose at them, "And does Miss Granger have her key?"
"Yes. Got it right here." Hagrid said setting off a flurry of activity as he began to check his pockets before producing the key. "Plus a note from Dumbledore about sumtin he wanted me ta do while ere."
The Goblin looked distastefully at them both but nodded curtly, "Follow me."
Hermione and Hagrid were led through a corridor to a room that looked like the loading area of a strange roller coaster. Boarding the strange cart the Goblin flicked several small levers then pulled a large one that began to ease the cart onto the tracks, picking up speed as it went within seconds Hermione started grinning as the wind was whipping her hair behind her, the nervous weight in her stomach replaced by the thrill of acceleration. Screaming with delight she was breathing hard and grinning when they screeched to a stop.
"Vault 713." The Goblin announced as calmly as if he worked the lift at Harrods.
Hagrid gingerly got out of the cart telling Hermione to wait there, She obediently sat still though she did watch as Hagrid gave a key to the Goblin then retrieved a small package from the otherwise empty vault. It looked like someone had wrapped a potato she randomly thought.
Hagrid scooped the mysterious thing up quickly and shoved it into one of his pockets. Getting back on the cart he leaned to Hermione and said, "I'd appreciate it if ya'd na mention this ta anywoon."
Hermione nodded then the cart was in motion again. This time taking a spiraling uphill course through several uncountable levels. Hermione didn't care the ride was incredible, she had no idea there was this much underneath London. Soon it rolled to a stop where the Goblin announced, "Vault 687 the Granger Vault."
Hermione timidly got out of the cart and using the key Hagrid had given the Goblin, and he had given her, she opened the solid looking door. It was well balanced and did not creak or groan like she expected. When the door was opened her eyes flew wide open as she beheld piles of golden coins, mounds of golden coins, stacks of silver bricks, columns of silver coins. Bowls filled with bright and dull copper coins lined shelves along the wall. She knew if her aunt or uncle ever found out about this she would be cleaned out in less than a heartbeat. If this really was all hers and not some school fund, she had to know for certain as this was far too much wealth for one person to have she was sure.
"Hagrid, is this really all mine?" She whispered as if speaking would make the vision go away.
"Aye, ye didn'a think yer parents were paupers now did you?"
Hermione didn't answer that as she carefully approached one stack of coins she had no idea how much this was all worth, how much she should get so looked at Hagrid who frowned and took a stack of coins to drop into a large pouch he had pulled from his pocket. Handing the pouch to Hermione she marveled at how light it felt.
"Now remember The gold ones are Galleons, the silvers are sickles and the copper are knuts."
"Okay. You'll have to explain how much each one is worth though." Hermione said trying to wrap her mind around the money she was holding in the sack. A sack which by all rights should have been far heavier than it seemed to be.
"Right we can do that as we shop. But there should be more than enough in the sack to get yer school supplies and a bit more."
Thanks Hagrid." Hermione beamed finally able to have things of her own.
…...
Leaving the bank Hagrid led Hermione to a shop called Ollivanders. The windows were frosted opaque including the one in the door with the simple gold script. As they crossed the threshold a small bell tinkled and Hermione felt a tingle go through her.
The interior of the store was dark woods with a long counter. A man that Hermione wondered if he was as old as the paving stones outside looked up when they walked in. She felt a slight chill as his eyes bored into her, flitting as usual to the scar barely hidden by her bangs.
"Ahh. Miss Granger I see. Welcome back to our world."
"Uh. Thank you." She said looking up at Hagrid who merely nodded to her. "I'm here for a wand like it says on my supplies list."
"Yes. Of course you are. Well let's see how you measure up shall we?" He said as a measuring tape unfurled itself from around his neck. "Which is your dominant hand?"
Hermione held her right hand out and watched in wonder as the tape measure curled itself around her palm, across her fingers and measured from her armpit down to her fingertip before it launched itself to a book and with some sparkles caused the measurements to appear on the page.
"Yes. Yes. Quite good. Wait a moment." He said shuffling into the shelves behind the counter before returning with several long white boxes. Laying them on the counter he opened the first and handed her a long pointy stick.
"What do I do with this?" she asked as she took hold of it.
"Just give it a bit of a swish and flick as the wand will choose the wielder we shall know if there is a good fit or not." Ollivander intoned.
Hermione did as she was told and a cold cloud enveloped her, chilling her to the bone and causing her glasses to fog over.
"No not that one." He said taking it back and handing her another. They went through a large pile of them without having a positive reaction. She saw black oil shoot out of the end of one, the curtains by the door caught fire from another, and yet another she began to sneeze until she thought her hair was going to fly off. The last one in the pile she had touched caused her to shriek as it gave her a rather rude electric shock when she touched it.
"Well. I wonder. No it might not be." Ollivander seemed to be whispering to himself as he stared at Hermione, "Why not though. It would make sense. Yes. We should give it a try."
He shuffled back down the shelves, so far back into the shadowy depths of the store that Hermione lost sight of him until he returned. An old dusty box cradled carefully in his hands. Setting it gently on the counter he opened the box and turned it to Hermione.
She reached in and picked it up with her thumb and forefinger. Not sure what this one was going to do. When it did not immediately do anything she took it in a firmer grip. As soon as her fingers closed around the smooth handle she felt a warm comfortable sensation spread up her arm along with a bright golden glow. When the display and sensation faded she looked worriedly at Hagrid and Ollivander to see the two of them staring at her mouths agape.
"Is that good?" she finally asked.
Ollivander nodded slowly, "Oh yes. Yes indeed Miss Granger. Good, yet curious. I have a feeling we can expect great things from you."
"Really?" She asked with a gulp.
"Oh yes. You see the core of this wand is a Phoenix feather. The Phoenix that gave that feather only ever gave one other feather." he said as his eyes flicked to her forehead. "That feather wound up in the wand that gave you that scar. So yes indeed Miss Granger I believe we can expect great things from you."
She swallowed as she tried to think of something to say, to ask, only her mind was failing as she looked at the wand and wondered what course her life was going to take now.
…...
They had gone to several other shops to gather her trunk, potion supplies and books. The final store was Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.
"Right, now you go on in there and get yer school uniforms and some nice clothes. She'll be able to help you find some o yer, eh, well, the, the more feminine clothing things." Hagrid stammered and awkwardly said.
"What are you going to do?" She asked unsure she was ready to be left alone in this strange world.
"I've got to run and get something. Now don worra Mary is a nice woman and she runs a safe shop. Now wands drawn at all." Hagrid said nodding firmly.
"Okay." Hermione glumly said bracing herself. Entering the shop as Hagrid went up the street whistling.
The shop was filled with clothes of all kinds and styles on racks and a few dummies. She was looking at a silk brocaded dress in awe when a blonde boy with a pinched nose and ice blue eyes walked over to her.
"Hello. You're another Hogwarts first year eh?" He said looking at the trunk she was dragging around.
"Oh yes. And you?" She felt stupid asking that as the boy stood staring at her with a smirk. She cringed at how silly she sounded.
Shrugging he said, "Of course. Mum and Dad are both alumni from there. Although Dad wanted to send me to Durmstrang as he said the place has gone downhill over the last few years. Mum shut that discussion down though."
"Oh." Hermione said unsure of what a Durmstrang was.
"Yes. Father says that Durmstrang only produces the finest most well trained of students. So what position do you play?"
"Position?" She asked for clarification. She hoped it wasn't something naughty as her aunt was claiming unwary young girls would fall prey to.
"Quidditch. I'm a seeker in our games among my friends. Quite good at it of course. I wonder how I could cajole father to help me get around that silly no first years having a broom rule." He said off handedly, "Such a silly rule don't you think?"
Hermione gave a slight shrug, "I'm sure they have their reasons."
"So what position do you play?" he asked again.
"Oh. I don't get to play much. I'll see what strikes my fancy when I get to school." She said hoping that would get the boy to move on to some other subject.
"Yes well. You do have a good broom don't you?"
Hermione frowned at how persistent this boy was about Quidditch. "No. My parents won't buy me one." A little white lie from a certain point of view she thought. Although from another one it was the truth.
"Oh. Such a shame." He said as they fell silent. He then looked over her shoulder with a scowl.
She turned to see Hagrid standing outside the store with a large cage. She smiled back as she looked at the beautiful white owl in the cage.
"What in the world is that thing?"
Hermione felt like being rude so said, "I believe they call that an owl."
"No not the bird the creature holding it. He's rather a wild beast isn't he?"
"His name is Hagrid and he's very nice. He works at Hogwarts you know." She huffed as her voice raised slightly.
"So that's the Hagrid. Father has told me so much about him. The drunken lout lives in a stone hut on the grounds. The only reason he has his job is out of pity from the headmaster." The blonde boy sneered.
"I think he's brilliant." said Hermione coldly.
The boy looked at her suspiciously like he was trying to measure her up, "Do you now? Why's he with you and not your parents?"
Hermione bit her lip unwilling to discus her personal matters with this rude boy, "They're unavailable today."
"They are the right sort though? I mean they are our kind of people aren't they?"
"They're a witch and wizard if you must know." She answered shortly.
"Well that's good at least. I don't think they should allow the other sort in. They go bumbling along not knowing the proper way to do anything or how to act. They should limit the school to the proper families." He snorted then suddenly seem to think, "Say what is your family name anyhow."
Before Hermione could answer a tall aristocratic woman glided from the fitting rooms followed by a squat woman in mauve robes. "Come along dear. We need to hurry to meet your father."
The boy's demeanor became much more submissive and obedient, "Yes mother."
The two of them dismissed Hermione who huffed as she watched them go. She had a feeling she was not going to like that boy.
"Ah. Miss. Another for Hogwarts?" The woman who must have been Madam Malkin asked.
"Yes ma'am. Along with a few other things for my wardrobe., including undergarments." Hermione thought about the woman who had just left with her tight blood red corset. "Although I don't think I want a corset."
"Well of course not dear. Corsets are a bit old fashioned and only those who want to put on airs wear them." The woman said cheerfully as she snapped her fingers in the air causing the curtains to part, "Now let's step into my chamber dearie and see what we've got to work with to help you look fabulous."
Hermione smiled at how the chubby woman danced around with various tape measures and cheerful observations about how she would look in certain clothes and colors. What would look good with her deep chocolate eyes and Like someone cared about her appearance for once.
…...
Leaving the shop Hermione jingled the sack she had before putting it back into the trunk, "Hagrid what's with the owl?"
"This is yer birthday gift Ermione." Hagrid said holding the cage out.
"Mine? You didn't need to do that." Hermione said breathlessly as she took the cage from Hagrid.
"Tis alright. I thought an owl would be the best choice. Toads are outdated and cats er far too temperamental. Owls though right useful creatures. Smart and loyal. They'll even take yer post to anyone, anywhere." He stated wisely.
"Well thank you Hagrid. I really appreciate that." Hermione said again.
"Right one last thing then I'm afraid I'll have to get ye back to yer relatives." Hagrid glumly said.
Hermione frowned, "Do I really have to?"
Hagrid looked sadly at her, "Aye ye do. They should be back in yer house by now and had a firm talking to. So things should be better."
Hermione doubted it but said nothing as they left the alley. Taking her trunk and cage into the sidecar with her they rode back to Arcadia Suffolk. When they arrived that evening her Uncle's blue Vauxhaul was sitting in the driveway. Like nothing had ever happened.
She sat in the sidecar glumly. Wondering if she was going to wake up on her mattress under the stairs and this would all be just a dream.
"Whas amatter?" Hagrid asked softly.
"Everyone thinks I did something so amazing and I don't remember any of it. What if when I get to Hogwarts I wind up a total failure." She looked up at the big man with damp eyes.
Hagrid took a deep breath before saying, "You'll do fine. Jest be yerself and go on wit it. I know you'll be good."
Hermione smiled weakly, "Thanks Hagrid. Now all I have to do is survive them." She said nodding towards the house.
"Well ye could always tell them I'd come back and finish the job on yer cousin." He said with a wink.
Hermione chuckled as she got out of the sidecar. "That might work."
"Oh speaking of work, one last thing." He said digging in his pockets again. Pulling out an envelope he handed it over, "Keep tight track o this Ermione. Yer ticket to the Hogwart's Express. Ye loose that and yer goin ta be stuck ere. So I know ye'll keep track o that."
Hermione read, King's Cross Station September 1st, train departs at 11am sharp. She would be there by then if she had to walk the entire way.
Hagrid took the massive bike and with a wave and roar of sound left her in front of her house once again.