Hermione returned to school in the new year the day before classes with human features. Her father's mood improved after the incident with Neville, but Hermione remained walking on eggshells as to not open the "no more secrets" conversation again. She was just happy to return to Gryffindor Tower with her proof. She found Harry and Ron playing wizard's chess in the Common Room.
"Hey, you lot," she smiled weakly.
"Hey, Hermione," Harry greeted. "How was Christmas?"
Hermione pulled up a third chair to their table and looked at the two of them. She was happy it was just the three of them. Here she could speak freely. "I found out somethings, but why don't you lot tell me how the holidays were first?"
"It was fantastic!" Ron said. "You'll never believe what Harry got for Christmas!"
"If you're that excited I hope it's Felix Felicis," Hermione smirked.
"What?" Ron and Harry asked.
"Luck potion," she sighed wondering how she was supposed to gauge if her jokes were accessible. "It doesn't matter. What is it?"
"I-erm-"Harry smiled. "I got-"
"Harry's got a Firebolt!" Ron exclaimed. "A Firebolt! Can you believe it?!"
"Way to steal my news, mate," Harry sighed.
Hermione choked and stared at Harry wondering who would give him a top-of-the-line broomstick. She didn't trust it, but was willing to listen. "A Firebolt," she forced a smile. "That's great. Who gave you it?"
"Dunno," Harry shrugged. "He didn't leave a name on it."
"They," Hermione muttered. "So you have no clue who gave you an incredibly expensive gift when you're being hunted?"
"I doubt Sirius Black has access to a Gringotts account, Hermione," Ron groaned. "Come on, can you not be a joy kill once. I'm trying to get on with you but I swear Snape's DNA makes you incapable of letting people enjoy their lives."
Hermione pulled her knees up to her chest and dug her nails into her hands. "I-" she squeaked. "Harry, this could be very dangerous. I don't know how who ever gifted you this did it, but I can't shake the feeling they want to hurt you."
"I thought you reckoned Black was innocent?" Ron grumbled.
"Of Pettigrew's murder," Hermione snapped. "That doesn't mean he's not trying to hurt Harry too. Harry, you're not just a some kid from Surrey. To so many you're a symbol, which means people will want to use you or destroy you. Someone like you should never accept anonymous gifts, Harry."
"And if I still had my Nimbus I'd-"
"And is Quidditch worth your life?" Hermione snapped.
"Hermione, listen," Harry started. "I need this. I don't expect you to understand. It's everything to me. I can't just not play this year. Everyone's counting on me. I can't let them down."
A lump formed in her throat and she swallowed. "Okay," she sighed. "We do tests at night. I'll nick some supplies from the hospital and we start small going incrementally higher. The first sign something's off, it becomes firewood, yeah?"
"Holy shit," Ron breathed.
Hermione dug her nails further into her hands and noted the familiar feeling of blood. "Please. Please, Harry."
"Tell me when you have the supplies you need," Harry sighed. "Thank you."
Hermione sighed in relief though she wished she hadn't signed on for yet another secret to keep from her prying father.
"You mentioned you found out somethings," Harry said changing the subject.
Hermione nodded and dug out her copied files from the morgue and pointed out the commonalities. "Three people have talked about 'rats' or 'vermin'," she explained. "I'm certain they're referring to Pettigrew fleeing the scene in the form of a rat."
"But it could be anything," Ron said. "Their spirits could have just noticed rats gnawing on their corpses. Hermione, this theory is mad."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Mayakovski's testimony in particular suggests something more."
"The rat escapes the hound to the serpent's embrace," Harry read aloud. "Hound like a Grim? Serpent could be Slytherin's heir."
"Precisely!" Hermione snapped her fingers. "The Kellas cat mentioned a dog on Hallowe'en. Lupin said the lot of them were animagi back in the day. What if Black is the dog you keep seeing? What if they both worked for the Dark Lord and there was a fall out of some kind? Pettigrew fled back to the Dark Lord while evading Black's wrath? It's possible, right?"
Harry narrowed his green eyes at the files. "It's possible."
"Expect Mayakovski would have to have known about You-Know-Who and what the serpent represents. If he was a muggle, how could he?" Ron pointed out. "Hermione, this is not just mad, it's stupid."
"It's not stupid," Harry said. "But I reckon Ron makes a good point. Even if he saw Black and Pettigrew transform, Mayakovski would have to know about Voldemort."
"Maybe he's a squib or a foreign wizard or-" Hermione bit her lip. "I'll see if I can find any evidence of a Misha Mayakovski enrolled here in the right timeline. I had to go through enrolment records anyway."
Mi-chan!
Christmas break was great! Instead of staying at home, we went to Kyoto. Kyoto is absolutely beautiful in the winter, I wish you were there to see it. Do you think you could spend August with us? The Quidditch World Cup is in Ireland then, so you could come with Kaori and me. Meaning you wouldn't have to be picked up in Tokyo. I know your Dad doesn't speak the language. I asked Mama and she thinks it'd be great!
Hiro's letter carried on about his classes, and his worry about his Levels Exams next year. Hermione had been writing him back reassuring him that he'd be just fine. Hiro was incredibly clever. Blush rose to Hermione's cheeks as she thought of spending the summer alone with him. Hiro very much still made Hermione's "bisexual heart go doki-doki". She even felt less guilty about the crush she had on Kaori, knowing her stronger feelings for Hiro were all that mattered (Okay, she could admit that it was still weird to be crushing on siblings).
She mulled over any excuses she had. Yamoto was paying her way for a huge international wizarding event, her father might accept that. Hermione wasn't sure, but she started thinking she'd like to be an investigative journalist. She liked the idea of exposing and correcting injustices. However not everyone starts writing about government corruption and non-human rights, so a huge sporting even might be a decent Herald article. It was professional, her father couldn't begrudge that. Plus, he didn't know about Hiro. Hiro was just a friend. What could possibly go wrong?
Hermione thought about the night in the bamboo forest. Hiro's lips against hers, Hiro's hand envoloping hers, the moonlight bouncing off his hazel eyes and wind-tossed black hair. That curve his lips made when-
"Hi, Hermione!" a voice called as arms hugged her from behind.
Hermione spun around to see the familiar silver eyes and bright beaming smile on a moon-pale face.
"L-Luna!" Hermione cried.
"Did you have a good Christmas?" Luna asked. "You look really happy! You're so cute when you blush."
If that was the case, Luna must have thought Hermione was adorable at the moment, the way her cheeks burned. Luna had a very peculiar effect on Hermione, perhaps it was the lack of filter. Also she'd just interrupted a very pleasant day dream about Hiro...
Hermione engaged in light mental gymnastics as she was dying to tell the one person to keep her secrets that Hiro invited her over for the summer. Stupid girlish excitement (she at least hoped!) was typical of a girl her age gave way to concern. Luna might just be Hermione's best friend and mentions of Hiro caused Luna to shut down. She wished she knew why. Luna never met Hiro, and Hermione was certain if they did they would get along famously.
Her feelings are more important than your foolish desire to gossip, you stupid little girl, she chastised herself. If you are her only friend you need to be good enough for her. Though Luna was so...well, Luna. Hermione doubted she was a decent enough person for...
You're not good enough for Hiro either...When he recovers from his temporary insanity...
"Just reading a good letter," she admitted, linking her arm in Luna's. "But how was your Christmas? Did you hunt for snow crystals with your dad? Tell me everything."
Luna described her time chasing myths with her father. They, of course, never found anything, but it sounded like the two had so much fun.
"And you," Luna skipped in front of Hermione and grabbed both her hands. "Haven't said a word about your holiday!"
"I-erm-" Hermione bit her lip. "I was kind of a cat. Again."
"Oh!" Luna cooed. "I bet you were adorable!"
"L-Luna!"
Luna grinned. "At this point I bet you could easily become an animagus!"
"Yeah," Hermione said, thinking about the crystal phial Harry gifted her. "You might be right."
First day of classes unfolded and Hermione got back into the pattern of using the damn time-turner, a head ache on top of renewed frantic efforts to study for her damn owls. She again resented whoever decided she was ready at thirteen for the OWLs when your were supposed to be fifteen or sixteen. Not that she had time for resentment. She still had the case she was building for Hagrid, she had to get to the library to look for Mayakovski and Lilies in her father's year. She also was doing the first secret broom test tonight. Then, she wanted to renew her research on animagi...Luna had given her a golden idea.
At least she could focus for now on her favourite class, Arithmancy. She loved Arithmancy and she was excited to talk to Deirdre again.
"Ooh! Ooh! New girl!" Deirdre giggled.
Hermione sat across from Deirdre laughing herself at the callback to their first meeting. Deirdre was hilarious, how did she not have more friends? She listened to the tall strawberry blonde Irish girl describe her Christmas, and the Poinsettia she got from her dad. And something else that was incredibly exciting.
"Gran called me her beautiful granddaughter!" her blue-green eyes sparkled. "When I came out I never thought-That's now everyone in my family!"
Deirdre's joy and excitement bleed into her Hermione, who could not have been happier for her friend. "That's incredible, Deirdre! I'm so happy for you!"
"Sixteen is sweet!" Deirdre smiled.
"Let's see if you feel that way when we have to take our OWLs," Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Oh, you joy kill!"
"Old lady," Hermione stuck her tongue out.
"Arse!" Deirdre giggled in return.
Angelina Johnson leaned over with a smile. "What's so funny?" she asked.
Angelina's Ravenclaw boyfriend, Mark Cohen, leaned over with a curious gleam in his dark eyes. "Do share with the class."
"This one," Deirdre teased pointing at Hermione. "Thinks I'm old because I turned sixteen last month."
"Hermione!" Angelina fiegned a gasp, dramatically widening her brown eyes. "I turned sixteen back in October, you know."
"Yes," Hermione nodded (she didn't know this). "But do you do needlepoint?"
"Oh, Deirdre," Angelina laughed. "You can't blame the kid then, can you?"
"I'm like two years younger than you," Hermione rolled her eyes. "Fine, and a few months."
Angelina and Deirdre exchanged their Christmas Holidays stories and Hermione said hers was uneventful.
"What did you do on Christmas, Mark?" Hermione asked to sniggers from her tablemates.
"Oh," Mark shrugged. "I was Jewish."
Cohen...duh! Hermione felt her cheeks warm. "Sorry."
Mark and Angelina laughed along with Deirdre and it became clear that there were no hard feelings. The lot of them laughed about various small things before Professor Vector shut them up to commence class.
"You're joking," Lupin said.
"I shit you not," Severus said. "I'm used to students' profoundly stupid blunders, but for someone assessing my stalk for the upcoming tests to cause an explosion? I couldn't make this up if I wanted to."
Lupin smirked, drinking his potion. "Merlin, I hope he replaced them."
"Oh, he is," Severus nodded. "I'll be washing toad bile out my hair for weeks, though."
The two men laughed as they continued down the corridor. The first Friday since classes resumed, and in the short time, their relationship made a complete 180. They weren't best mates, but it was...God, Severus liked talking to the mongrel now.
"At least you're in good humour about it," Lupin shrugged. "Why are they assessing your stalk so early?"
Severus set his tea down and sighed. "They didn't say, but I strongly suspect they were searching to ensure I wasn't hiding anything to help Hermione with the OWLs. It's been a long time since a Professor's child was enrolled, and Hermione's situation is...unique."
Lupin nodded sympathetically. "I'm surprised. I don't think I've ever heard of any one advancing before."
"That was the Headmaster's stroke of genius," he rolled his eyes. "No regard for whether she'd be ready or what she's supposed to do when she's graduated but too young to break the trace."
Lupin gave a sympathetic half smile and searched him with his pale green eyes. "That must be difficult."
"You have no idea, Lupin," he said.
Lupin once again offered a reassuring smile.
Severus wished he could still hate him. Though Lupin made it hard. Recently, his indignant attitude and anger had vanished. This of course made Lupin much easier to tolerate. But it was more than that. After years of being alone save his daughter, having an adult to talk to that wasn't Dumbledore made felt like a relief. Since he'd graduated he never had any friends, and the Slytherins he hung about weren't exactly bosom friends. Or friends at all if he thought of it.
Yet, Lupin at seemed to offer sincere concern. Looking into his eyes,for the first time in years, Severus felt he might have a friend. Merlin help his stupid arse, he wanted to trust Lupin, wanted them to be friends.
"Thanks again for the potion, Severus," Lupin said before leaving.
"I imagine it'd reflect poorly on me if I let you wolf-out," he sighed. "Purely looking out for my own self-interest."
Lupin smirked. "And that's why we were talking for the past 20 minutes?"
"I had nothing better to do."
1971, Hermione flipped through the archives trying to find first year admissions for that year. It took longer to find than expected given that she reordered the archives herself while in detention in the previous year. She smiled thinking about the birth of the Hogwarts Herald and meeting Luna and O'Malley. Failing to let Harry and Ron into the school certainly had its upsides. O'Malley was the only one who talked to her in Ancient Runes and he introduced her to Skylar, and they introduced her to Deirdre. And of course, Luna was one of her best friends, and she wondered if she would have met her if it wasn't for her father catching them.
Got it! Hermione dug the file from the cabinet and opened it beneath the light of her wand. Admissions and Sorting 1971-72. Like Hermione's year-well, technically not her year anymore-her father's class was small, forty students in all. This was a stroke of luck. She read through the names in order when she found Evans, Lily; Sorted Gryffindor. She wished she knew what house Mary was in to narrow it down, but five of the seventeen girls were Maries. The next Lily was Kapoor, Lily; Sorted Hufflepuff and the final Lily was Mayakovski, Lily; Sorted Slytherin. She knew her father's house was Slytherin and interhouse friendships were very rare. Mayakovski, Lily seemed to be the most likely candidate. Though she discounted the four Elizabeths and Nakamura, Lillian; sorted Ravenclaw.
Nakamura, Hermione pondered her East Asian features and the assumption she'd have been sorted into Ravenclaw. Could Lillian Nakamura be her mother? It was simply a last name, and she knew she couldn't hold too much weight to it. Then there was always the image in the Mirror of Erised that suggested her mother was not a Japanese British witch. Though she also recalled her first middle name and the name her father gave her a fake letter. Lillian Nakamura and the Elizabeths were back on the list. For now, she'd start with Lily Mayakovski.
Mayakovski! Hermione dropped the file on the table and rushed to the files kept for 1939 and 1940. She rummaged through the cabinet until she found her prize. Admissions 1939. Frantically coming over the larger class of 100, she didn't find the name. Late September or early October birthday, she mused combing over the 1940 admissions list.
Mayakovski, Misha; Sorted Slytherin.
Mayakovski was a wizard! He'd been mistaken for a muggle. Hermione sat down, wondering why no one recognized him when he was brought in. Whatever the reason, the man would know the symbolism of the snake. He'd know about animagi and he would have definitely known about Voldemort. She had it, finally! Her proof...
Ron still won't believe me, but Harry might...
"Erm," a voice said from behind her. "Hi, Hermione."
Hermione turned to see someone other than who'd she expected. Instead of silver eyes, she met with round, black eyes nervously evaluating her. Padma Patil stood before her with a book clasped to her chest and glossy black braid slung over her shoulder trailing to her waist. Hermione only knew Padma wasn't her identical twin because of the bronze and navy stripes on her bow-tie, and navy trim with bronze stars on her outer robes. Hermione lived with Pavarti for two and a half years now, she thought she should have been able to tell the twins apart. Even if they were identical.
Padma doesn't stand as straight.
"Hi, Padma," she replied shoving triplicate files into her bag. "Sorry, once I'm done, I'll be out of your hair."
"Actually," Padma admitted. "I'm looking for you. I-erm-" she sighed. "This is awkward. I've been a complete arse to you and Luna. I'm-"
"The only one who apologized after the cat incident," Hermione offered. "I remember that. Everything else was so minor compared to-honestly, Padma, it's fine. And-wait, what did you do to Luna?"
Padma bit her lip and averted her gaze. "Same as with you. Watch others give her hell and join in on the laughter. A day doesn't go by without someone in our house pulling some cruel prank. It's awful."
"I promise it's worse for her," Hermione said, crossing her arms. "What do you want from me?"
Padma averted her gaze and sighed. "Arithmancy used to be one of my best subjects, but I've fallen behind. Mark Cohen said you were top of their class. Can you-erm-help me? Please."
Not a day goes by without someone in our house pulling some cruel prank. Hermione wanted to say no, but looking at Padma's troubled black eyes and brown features. She recognized a crisis when she saw one, and Padma looked the part.
"Okay."