"And you promise to write me daily, yes?" Severus asked brushing Hermione's hair from her face.
"Yes, Dad," Hermione sighed. "I promise to write you daily."
Severus regarded his twelve-year-old daughter with apprehension. Hermione stood before him, looking every bit the fragile, vulnerable child he thought she was. Hermione's brown almond shaped eyes dominated her tiny olive face, reminding him a bit of a frightened fawn. He often mentally compared them to that of a doe or a doll, the latter comparison aided by her tiny stature, long eyelashes, and waist-length bushy brown hair that she so often loved to hide behind.
The two of them stood in their living quarters joined by a carved stone fox sitting conspicuously on their table. When the time came, Hermione would pick up the figurine and appear at the Petrel landing, in Japan... It was supposed to be good for her, but it was so far away.
This wasn't Hermione's first trip to Japan, and it wouldn't be her last. However, he was even more apprehensive to see her leave Britain than the first time. Back in February the girl had been abducted and he feared he'd lost her. The image of her bleeding out at the foot of a staircase, or of her lying dead and forgotten in a deep underground chamber still haunted his dreams. He knew things could have been much, much worse. Severus was lucky to have his child back, and he wasn't exactly ready to see her off again, even if it was only thirty days.
"So much for never letting you out of my sight again," he set his hand on her head. How do other parents agree to do this for ten months?
Hermione tilted her head and offered a sympathetic smile. "You always knew you couldn't keep that promise, Dad."
"I know, love," he sighed. "I just don't want anything else to happen to you."
"Everything is going to be fine, Dad," Hermione tried to assure him.
Even if they had similar definitions of the word fine, which Severus was beginning to suspect they didn't, he would have trouble believing her. She had been playing at fine since she had been back, as if he couldn't see the clear exhaustion, the sudden disappearances and reappearances with red-rimmed eyes, and the increase in her nervous behaviours such as digging her nails into her own hands, checking things thrice, and dividing her food into thirds-no that last one started before.
He could sense the guilt weighing on her like the cosmic heavens on Atlas's shoulders. Hermione saw it as her purpose to fix everything, to make herself 'of use' to people in anyway she could. Which meant that if she could find away to blame herself for harm done to others, she would without hesitation. Everyone who knew Hermione knew this about her, which is why he was currently infuriated by the only man he respected.
"What the hell was that about?!" Severus demanded marching into Dumbledore's office.
"I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific, Severus," Dumbledore sighed.
"You know precisely what I'm talking about!" he spat. "The way you spoke to Hermione was completely unacceptable!"
"I see," Dumbledore nodded, rising from his chair. "Do you think the way I spoke to the girl was inappropriate?"
"Watching a grown man exploit my twelve-year-old daughter's emotional weak points while she bit her nail until she bled wasn't exactly the highlight of my fucking year!" he seethed. "I thought you've 'grown fond of the girl'?"
"And I have," Dumbledore said. "Hermione's an empathetic, sweet and clever girl, if at times cynical and vindictive. My goal was not to hurt her."
"Vindictive?" he scoffed. "The girl feels guilty the instant something cruel leaves her mouth, even if it's deserved. But enlighten me."
"Hermione was simply collateral damage."
"Oh? My baby was simply collateral damage?" he said scathingly. "Well, I feel so much better now!"
"It was a test," Dumbledore peered at him over his half-moon spectacles with a rather grim expression. "I wanted to do a few things, Severus, one was to communicate my points, yes, but I also needed Harry to see that he will often receive preferential treatment over his peers. And I wanted to see how he reacted to it. Not only was he uncomfortable with the difference, he stood up for Hermione. Even admitted to a mistake I had no way of knowing about. I loathed to do it, especially after such a harrowing experience, but I daresay, Harry will be ready when the time comes."
"Ready for what?" he asked.
"In due time, Severus," Dumbledore sighed.
"Regardless," he shook is head. "Hermione is as much a child as Potter is! And you DO NOT get to toy with my little girl's mental health for the edification of that boy!"
"It wasn't just for Harry's edification, Severus," he said, his blue eyes once again with that damned knowing twinkle.
"Do you honestly believe speaking to her like that will do her any good?"
Dumbledore closed his eyes and frowned. "I don't think my motives matter to you right now, Severus. And though it was never my primary intention, I must confess I half-hoped seeing Harry defend her would earn the boy some sympathy from you."
"You thought praising the boy than proceeding to tear Hermione apart for the same things would gain my sympathy?" he scoffed.
"Harry is as much a child as Hermione is, Severus. He has no control over how others treat him," Dumbledore's face fell and he sighed. "How is she?"
How is she? Dumbledore tore into her for the sake of a boy that he frankly thought took her for granted and he had the audacity to ask how she was? How did he think she was? He thought back to dropping her off at the hospital and how she had covered her whole body with blankets when she thought she was left alone, shaking with muffled sobs. Hermione had just survived several close calls, was injured and in pain, Dumbledore couldn't be held entirely responsible for her emotional state, but he did intentionally make it worse, and for what? And now he wanted to know how she was?
"IN TEARS AND CONVINCED THIS IS ALL HER FAULT!" he snapped. "But it was all to accommodate Harry fucking Potter learning the value of modesty, so I'm certain it was worth it!"
Severus had been openly critical of Dumbledore in the past, but that night was the first and only time he'd been that intentionally hostile since joining his side. Some part of him still feared the man, he was a great wizard. And Despite his feelings toward him being muddied, he still greatly respected Dumbledore. Though he didn't think he could ever forgive him for his treatment of Hermione that night, and his flimsy motives made it worse. The man had no right to treat her so horribly. Hermione respected him, looked up to him and he took advantage of that to exploit her emotional weaknesses. Who did that? How-
No, that it's different...I just want what's best for her...
"Dad?" Hermione asked in a small voice, blinking at him. "Are you okay?"
Severus hugged her to him and pat her head. The night after his confrontation with Dumbledore, he'd visited Hermione in hospital. He remembered how she'd looked at him with that same concerned and confused expression after casually using his own words to explain why she thought Dumbledore had treated her differently. Can't expect the same level of leniency...life's not fair...that's the way it is. Severus wanted to prepare his daughter for unfair treatment, not teach her to accept it.
Damn, that girl could always tell when he was lost in thought. "Just wondering how you will take to the portkey and the flight via storm petrel."
Hermione's olive skin flushed pink and she looked away. Her predisposition of motion sickness and fear of heights made her transport to Japan more harrowing than her time there. He hated that he couldn't drop her off this time around. Last year Severus dropped Hermione off at the headmaster's daughter-in-law's apartment, because Minako Yamato wanted to meet her son's little quill-mate. This time around she was to portkey to a landing with the rest of the cultural enrichment students.
"Why did I agree to this again?" he sighed.
"I'll write every night," Hermione promised. "I remember all those new spells you taught me, I won't go anywhere alone, and I'll report odd behaviour rather than investigating it. Dad, everything is going to be fine."
"If you are targeted you are to do what?" he asked lifting her face.
"Shield, disarm, immobilize, blind, deafen, run and scream," she recited mechanically. This wasn't the first, or second, or even twelfth time he made her do this. "If I'm unsure whether they mean to harm me, disarm and impede their movements and go hide."
"Okay," he nodded, not the least bit relieved. "That's perhaps the best we can do. Just be careful over there, yes?"
Hermione gave a weak smile. "I will, you don't have to worry. Did I mention that everything is going to be-"
"Fine?" he raised an eyebrow. "It may have come up. I want to believe it, Hermione."
"Nothing happened last year, nothing will happen this year," she sighed. "And you know me, I always land on my feet."
"The time you spent in the hospital last year would suggest otherwise," he said. "And do you really want to be adopting that phrase?"
Hermione shrugged and offered a crooked smile. "They're not going to stop. I might as well have fun with it, besides, I did always like cats."
Since before Hermione started her first year, rumours abound about her origins. Two popular ones included her being found in the rubbish of a Chinese take-away, with a racist addition of cat skeletons for good measure, the second was a preposterous rumour that she was a transfigured kitten of the caretaker's , Filch, aged and bitter cat, Mrs Norris. The poor girl was compared to a kitten in front of her classmates on her first day, in the environment of those rumours. She then spent a month and a half in hospital because one of the older girls attempted and failed to transfigure her into a cat.
"Have fun with your torment?" he mussed her hair. "How did I manage to raise such a foolish child?"
"It's probably just brain damage," Hermione's jovial tone failed her.
"Not funny," he scowled. "You were seriously injured, Hermione. I thought you-" he sighed realising how little time they had. "You will write me daily, no excuses. Behave yourself, and stay out of trouble, yes?"
"Yessir," Hermione nodded.
"Right," he nodded, drawing her into another hug. "I'll talk to you tonight. Stay safe."
"You too," Hermione rose on her tip-toes to kiss his cheek. "Love you, Dad."
"I love you too," he ran a hand over the top of her head. "Goodbye."
"Sayonara!" she smiled before taking the stone fox in her hands.
Without further ceremony, Hermione vanished from his sight, appearing somewhere in southern Japan. Had Severus done enough to prepare her? Would something happen to her? He mentally ran through the precautions he instructed knowing they wouldn't have helped back in February and that they wouldn't help if she were taken by surprise again. He just had to trust that she would be okay...he didn't like it.
Stars twinkled in across the deep blue sky overhead and somewhere in the distance waves beat against the cliff they stood on. The warm ocean breeze blew over them as the salt air filled Hermione's lungs. She emerged from the tree-line once she regained her barrings, closed her eyes and heard the breeze cut through the trees behind her. The scent of many tropical plants she had nearly forgotten wafted through the air.
Hermione opened her eyes to see a cluster of gaijin kids near the edge of the cliff. She knew all of them in passing, but she immediately recognized a dark-skinned boy around a year older than her laughing with a bubbly petite blond girl of sixteen.
"Sam! Anya!" she called running to them.
"Hermione!" Anya hugged Hermione.
"So in Canada," Sam chuckled. "We have this German stereotype that they are efficient and distant. I'm thinking I'll have to alert the masses we were wrong."
"I might be unique, or Bremerhaven might just be filled with petite blond huggers!" Anya smiled. "A good German girl tells no secrets!"
"I will find out!" Sam teased. "We Canadians have our ways."
"Oh?" Anya smirked. "Torturing us with your watered down beer?"
"Watered down beer? I'm not American, Anya!" Sam's brown eyes widened as he gasped. "I was planning on explaining in vivid detail my hockey team's history and make excuses on why they haven't won the Stanley cup in decades."
"Oh," Hermione moaned. "I don't care what country or sport you're talking about, that is torture!"
The three burst into laughter over their mutual hatred of sports and made fun of their own perspective countries of origins. Hermione basked in the moment, she was eager to reunite with Hiro, Saiyaka and Kaori, but she still felt lighter, happier. Even if Sam and Anya wrote her infrequently after summer passed, she still felt so close.
A cry pierced through the chatter and laughter. Hermione looked overhead to find three giant silver birds with massive wing spans prepared for landing. Hermione noted no one else gaped at the giant storm petrels, but she, even after everything, she hated heights, and didn't trust herself not to fall into the ocean churning far below them.
The students filed themselves three-to-a-petrel, organized by year. Hermione rode with Sam and Anya, who yelled quips to each over the roaring winds and ocean. Hermione pretended to laugh here or there, but focused on maintaining composure. Relief came to her in the form of an opalescent teired castle peaking from the foliage atop a green mountain.
The petrels landed on a clear path surrounded by thick forest, the students dismounted and walked the winding cobbles bathed in golden light from lamps on either side. They passed under the great red Torii and up the stone stairs into the castle proper. They were all greeted by colourful murals painted on rice paper depicting four season, sakura for spring, an bamboo forest for summer, and the gigantic ocean waves crashing against a cliffside for summer. Other scenes of the island could be spied elsewhere. An ornate staircase guided them up to the second floor, where Anya and Hermione separated from the other six to head to the girls' dormitory.
"Konbenwa, Hermi-chan!" Saiyaka greeted her.
The timid girl bowed her head, but smiled brightly after adjusting her spectacles. Still dressed in her pink robes, and her waist-length, dark brown hair still in twin braids, Hermione imagined Saiyaka was still working doing homework when she came to their dorm.
Unlike in Hogwarts where the students were divided into houses and slept in group rooms according to gender and age, Mahoukatoro had students paired with one other student of their year and gender. Some students could volunteer or otherwise be assigned July-students, they lived alone for the rest of the year. Hermione found herself for the first time wondering where people like Skylar fit into the living arrangements...was it bad she never thought of that before?
She put it from her mind for now, glad to meet her friend for the first time in a year.
"Konbenwa, Saiya-chan!" she beamed. "How've you been?"
Saiyaka abandoned the work on her desk and sat on her futon next to her fat grey cat, Momo, brushing her long fringe out of her face revealing large brown eyes behind her round specs, and smiled. "Things have been great here. Hiro, Miyuki, Toshio, Kaori and I hang out all the time now. But, erm, I guess you knew that. I missed you."
Hermione set her bag on her own futon. "I missed you too, Saiya-chan."
"You never talk about yourself in your letters," Saiyaka leaned in. "How was your year? Tell me everything!"
Hermione mused for a bit. What to tell? She trusted Saiyaka now, but- Hermione was still working it out herself. And if she were honest, she was ashamed that she had to be rescued. She brushed it off for a titbit she already told Hiro.
"Well, I roughly three months looking like Aiko from Koneko Mahou Shojou! So, that was fun," she shrugged. "My friend Luna still scratches me behind the ear."
"What?" Saiyaka laughed. "Oh, Hermione, you're in much better humour about that than I would be-wait Luna, I thought all your friends back home were boys?"
"Luna started last year. She's very nice."
Saiyaka nodded, her dark olive skin turning pink. "Did you tell Hiro yet? He might like you even more if you do!" she laughed. "I think Aiko was his first crush!"
Hermione felt her own face flush, and knew it was probably a furious pink as well. She ran a hand through her bushy hair and waved it in front of her face. "Hiro wouldn't like this. I don't think anyone does."
Saiyaka averted her gaze and scratched Momo behind her ears. "You'd, erm, be surprised."
Did Hiro say anything to you? Hermione thought averting her own gaze and swallowing. Hiro noticing her that way was the fantasy since they'd met. She suddenly felt very selfish thinking about that when they were seeing each other for the first time in ages. She inhaled and collected herself.
"If you're done teasing me about my hopeless crush," Hermione leaned in with a smirk. "What about you? Any girls I get to torment you about?"
"Me? I'm only thirteen!" Saiyaka let out a nervous laugh and adjusted her glasses.
I'm technically still twelve, and you had a crush before...I must've hit a sore spot, Hermione thought. "Saiyaka, sorry! I-I d-didn't mean to offend you. I'm fine to drop it if you want to talk about something else."
Saiyaka adjusted her glasses again and nervously smiled. "We're not supposed to tell our July students, teachers want it to be a surprise, but we'll all be going off island this month for a weekend to a bamboo forest so we can see them flower! It only happens once every sixty years!"
"I've read about bamboo blossoms!" Hermione squeed. "I can't believe we'll get to see them!"
The girls spent the rest of the night talking about the magical properties of bamboo blossoms, speculating on how they'd look in person and the excitement of choosing their own groups to camp out with. The whole thing seemed surreal, and Hermione simply couldn't wait for that weekend. Part of her was excited for the observation and rituals around the flowering, and part an even bigger part of her was excited for the minimal adult intervention promised during the trip. After everything, Hermione felt that this was going to be a very good July.