Tonight's Episode: Sorted Together
A new world is found where first year girls are put through the sorting hat to be married to their husbands for life. Women are second place citizens and one first year named Hermione Juliet Granger refuses to take a knee for this.
Starring:
Harry Potter
Hermione Granger
Mia Weasley
and Lavender Brown.
Also Starring
Minerva McGonnagal
Introducing
Hermione Juliet "Julie" Granger
William James Potter
and
Ashley Lupin
Brought to you by: Wandy the Wonder Wand. The only wand that can be your friend.
Not a Quin Martin production. Not affiliated with JK Rowling. Not owned by anyone, anything or acknowledged under intergalactic or interdimensional treaty. No warranties express or implied. No money back guarantee.
Hogwarts School of Wizardry. September 1, 1991. 1800hrs.
Hermione and the other first year girls had been taken aside from the boys before the sorting. She was not sure what was going on but the way the pure-blood girls were smirking and pointing at the muggle-borns and half-bloods made her irritated.
"Verra well. Please line up in alphabetical order." The Scottish professor Minerva McGonnagal stepped into the room standing before all of them. Hermione blinked in surprise as her breasts were much larger than when she had visited her family to inform Hermione and help her get her things.
Hermione got into line between girls named Fay Dunbar and Daphne Greengrass. The professor walked down the line examining them before reaching the end.
"I am pleased to see that some of you have already developed your breasts. Some of you are still rather flat chested. This will soon change. From this point forward each year, your breasts will inflate one cup size when you arrive at Hogwarts. This change will be irreversible but may be hidden if you enter the muggle world. Those of you who have already developed will find your breasts increasing as well."
Susan and Millicent both looked down at their already noticeable breasts with some concern.
"Further when you are sorted you will not be sorted into a house but with your husband. This marriage will be registered with the Hall of Heralds and will not be able to be nullified, nor shall you ever be able to divorce. You will not earn house points for yourself but your actions will reflect on your husband's house."
Hermione scowled at that. She was a firm believer in free will and making her own choices. Some of the other muggle-borns seemed upset as well. A slight muttering began.
"Please save your arguments. The alternative to this is to have your magic bound and your minds wiped of any knowledge of the magical world." The professor sternly said, "Now. Anyone who does not agree to the laws that we have please speak now."
Hermione said nothing but a girl named Sally-Anne Perks asked to be sent home. She didn't want to grow huge or be married yet. Professor McGonnagal nodded and opened a door for her to leave. It was not the one they had come in from, nor the one the professor had entered the room from.
"Now. As I was saying you will be married to the young man the hat determines is your compatible match. You will be his wife in all things. This means you will sleep with him, you will defer to him in your relationship, you will obey his wishes. You will provide sexual pleasure for him and bear his children." She said pacing in front of the girls.
Hermione tried to think of the boys she had met on the train and wondered which one she would be with. Which one could be considered compatible with her.
"One comfort is that he may not take another female as a companion. So your relationship shall be monogamous. Now are there any questions?" She asked standing in front of the group.
Hermione had a thousand questions but wasn't sure she wanted an answer to many of them. Especially as grimly as the professor was glaring at them all.
"Very well. By now the boys should be finished so we shall begin. Follow me." She said and turned to got through the door she came in. It was opposite the one they had been brought through from the boat house.
When they passed through the door way each girl gasped and grabbed their breasts. Hermione tried to ignore the sudden tingle and swelling sensation as her small puffies blossomed outwards into small lemons. She looked down and sighed thinking how each year this would happen, plus any natural growth she would have. She frowned as she was glad her family was mostly smaller breasted.
…...
Entering the Great Hall Hermione was finally exposed to all of the other students. The train had keep the first years in one specific car separated from the rest of the students.
Looking around Hermione saw several of the older students were pregnant, or nursing a baby. Some of the girls had huge breasts. All of them were sitting around four long tables. The boys had robes which were trimmed in house colors and had a crest over their left chest with the house on them. Some of them had a personal or family crest above their right chest. All of the girls had unadorned robes, although those who appeared to be married to the boys with a crest on their robes shared that crest.
Hermione watched as all of the other girls in front of her were sorted to be with their husbands. Some looking excited and happy, while others looked skeptical and reluctant. She was led tot he seat and had a hat placed on her head. She closed her eyes and waited.
"Hmm. A real streak of independence and bossiness. A desire for justice and change, and thinking you're the equal to your husband. Oh yes. You're going to be quite the handful for any husband to have to deal with." She heard a voice saying in her head.
"I don't want to be handled. I want to be loved and a partner of my husband. I want to be appreciated." She huffed internally, at least she hoped it was internally.
The voice laughed, "Oh yes. You are going to be quite the handful. So it had better be POTTER!" she blinked as the hat was removed from her head. She felt a tingle around her left finger as a ring formed bearing a crest on it.
She frowned before being pointed towards a black haired boy sitting at the Gryffindor table. He was grinning widely as he looked at her with adoring eyes. She frowned as she headed for him wondering what sort of life she was in for now.
…...
The dinner had gone well, a true midevil style feast as the foods arrived and the only beverages were ale, beer, or wine. She noticed a few of the males would suckle from their wive's breasts and laugh. Ron's older brothers were doing that with their wives.
Harry had stood to help her into her seat but otherwise had not really spoken to her. He kept stealing glances at her as she sat wondering what he was thinking. Finally the headmaster stood and called for attention. Everyone turned to look at him as he raised his hands in greeting.
"Ahh welcome back my friends for another year. And congratulations to our new brides. A word of reminder that all of you will be checked in the morning to see if you have consummated your marriage."
Hermione looked shocked, she would have to have sex or be forced to do it? She had no choice in this? She looked at Harry Potter and he tried to smile reassuringly at her. She felt a panic rising as she had wanted to wait until she was older, what would her parents think. Would she even be allowed to see them again? Her mind was a whirling galaxy of thoughts.
…...
The meal had ended and people were lingering in the hall talking and drinking, a few had even begun to have sexual relations. She jumped when she felt a hand on hr thigh, spinning she saw harry had touched her.
"Sorry. I was going to ask if you wanted to go up to our room." He said leaning closer.
"Go to our room?"she repeated.
"Well you don't seem like the sort who would want to consummate our wedding in the middle of the great hall. Even if it does seem to be a Weasley tradition." Harry laughed gesturing at Ron and Lavender who were heading for a large bed in the center of the room that had appeared.
"Uh no. We can leave." She said heading for the main doors. She noticed several other couples had begun to leave as well. Including a couple who had two children and one more on the way.
They had walked in silence a few moments when Harry sighed, patting her backside he said "You're a bit skinny. I don't know why they inflate your boobs and leave your hips and backside alone."
"I think I look just fine." She huffed. Stepping away from him to get his hand off of her.
Harry shrugged, "I guess. Although we can talk to Dumbledore about that. Maybe he or McGonnagal can pad you out some."
"Excuse me? Don't I get a say in any of this?" She demanded horrified.
Harry frowned, "Why would you? You're my wife."
"So?"
He stepped forward and put his hands on her hips, "That means you are to obey me. That's what Dumbledore has told me it meant."
She didn't know what else to do at that moment so she stepped backwards and kicked him in the groin as hard as she could. She thought he might have actually lifted off of the ground slightly before she spun and began to run for her life. Up stairs, downstairs and down corridors until she reached a dead end with a really ugly tapestry hanging on the wall.
She began to pace thinking, "I have to get out of here to someplace safe. I need to get out of here to someplace safe."
She was so focused on trying to figure out how to get out fo the castle and into someplace safe that she did not notice the strange door shimmer into view for a long moment. It wasn't until she heard voices coming that she looked around in panic and saw it.
Running through the door without thinking she found herself in a large shadowy black room with a tall veiled arch standing in the middle of it. There was nothing else in the room but she could see stairs descending through the arch so ran down them.
At the bottom of the stairs she exited another arch into a similar room, only this one was brilliantly white and lit so there was utterly no shadows at all. Gasping as she felt two things happen simultaneously. The ring that had been attached to her finger melted off and her breasts deflated back to their normal puffies. She even looked down her blouse to confirm it happily.
Wriggling her fingers to ensure there was nothing permanently wrong with her hand she moved to the door that was across from the arch. Opening it slowly she blinked as she seemed to still be in Hogwarts, only it looked slightly different.
The tapestry seemed to be cleaner and the corridor was well lit. Looking up Hermione saw large white panels that emanated the light. Stepping out she noticed the air smelled clean and fresh,not smokey like it was before.
Walking carefully she wondered where everyone that had been looking for her was. She soon reached a large wide spiral staircase in the middle of the castle and not sure where else to go she started down. That might let her escape.
She had reached the ground floor when three boys came out of a corridor to her right laughing about something. One of them had wavy black hair that was held back in a short ponytail. When he looked up at her she saw he had dark blue eyes and no glasses which let her stop holding her breath. His pale round face had a slight spray of freckles across it.
"Mum? What happened to you?" He asked.
She scowled at him, "Mum?"
"Oh shit." The boy said, "You're not mum are you?"
"I am Hermione Granger. I have no idea who you are but if you try to make me do anything I don't want to I will hurt you." She declared stepping into a fighting stance.
"Hey. I don't want to hurt you." The black haired boy said.
The chubby brown haired boy to his right frowned, "Hey do you think she could be one of those interdimensional ones?"
"Probably Bert. Bobbie go get a professor." the black haired boy ordered the tall blonde on his left to go do. He nodded and set off at a high lope.
"Excuse me. I have told you my name now tell me yours!" Hermione was getting angry.
"Sorry. Allow me to introduce myself to you, I am William James Potter and this is my faithful squire Cuthbert Lindstrom." The boy said bowing briefly then gesturing at the brown haired boy beside him who smiled at her. "The tall blonde lad who just went to get someone in authority is Robert Carson our other companion."
"POTTER? Are you related to Harry Potter?" She felt a surge of fear run through her.
"Uh. He's my dad."
She looked at him in confusion. He was older than she was she thought which meant there was no way he could be the son of the boy she had just kicked in the nads. She froze when a large heavyset woman came hustling back with the blonde boy.
"Professor Bulstrode I think we have a problem." The Potter boy said pointing at Hermione.
The professor looked at the brown haired girl standing there and said, "Oh shit."
At that moment the bell rang and students began to pour into the corridors. Hermione turned and ran through the crowds. Losing herself.
…...
Hermione leaned against the wall in a dank dungeon corridor. She had lost her pursuers once again.
"Hello. You're the one they're all in a kerfluffle over." Hermione heard a whispery nasal voice say from behind her.
She spun to see a dark haired ghost in school uniform coming through the wall. It appeared to be a teenage girl wearing glasses with long black hair. "You're a ghost!"
"Yes. Well spotted." The girl snarked, "What gave it away the fact I just floated through the wall or that you can see through me?"
"No. I mean. Uh. Oh my." Hermione was confused and scared now.
"You must not be one of the brighter Granger versions." the girl observed haughtily.
"Granger versions?"
"Yes. Granger versions. Something they would be able to explain to you if you'd stop running around like a niffler in Gringotts." The girl snorted, "By the way my name is Myrtle. I'm a student liaison here. So if you follow me I'll lead you back to civilization."
"Uh. I'm not going to have to consummate a marriage with anyone am I?" Hermione asked petulantly.
Myrtle looked at her crossly, "Consummate? Marriage? Oh dear. Where you came from it must be pretty bad."
"You have no idea." Hermione sighed, "But I'm safe here?"
"Oh yeah. Headmaster McGonnagal will drop a ton of bricks on anyone that causes trouble." Myrtle said proudly.
"Minerva McGonnagal?"
"Yeah. But not the one you're used to. Come on. I'll bet they've already contacted the locals. So lets go on back. You'll be safe. I promise." Myrtle said raising her hand in a scout salute.
Hermione took a deep breath and nodded as she wondered what had happened.
…...
The ghost had stopped and talked to some paintings and another ghost before leading her into what was obviously a hospital ward.
Standing in the middle of the room was a tall woman with dark brown skin dressed in red robes, professor McGonnagal in a tall dark green dress with a tartan scarf wrapped around her waist. She looked older and grayer haired than she had a few minutes, hours, years, ago? The black haired boy from earlier was standing beside two other adults.
It was these other adults that made her feel light headed and short of breath. The man was black haired and wore gold rimmed glasses which highlighted the emerald green eyes behind them. Eyes she had last seen staring at her from another much younger face. The other adult though made her stop breathing altogether.
At first she thought it was her mother come to take her home but then she realized this was an older version of herself. She was looking into a carnival mirror.
"Hello Alice. Welcome to Wonderland." The older Harry Potter said with a cheeky grin.
"I didn't go through a mirror." she said incredulously.
"No, but you somehow managed to convince the Room of Requirement to provide you some means of interdimensional travel." The older version of herself explained.
"Alright everyone. First of all I need to check her over and make sure there is nothing going on that is a danger to her or us."
"Sure thing Parvati. Let us know when you're done and we can come back in." Harry said with a nod pulling the black haired boy who was watching her with him.
…...
Hermione was sitting in the bed trying to figure out everything she had been told today. She was glad that the healer Parvati had said she was healthy and had no charms, compulsions or anything on her.
The fact that she was in an alternate reality like some kind of science fiction show was something she was having trouble accepting. Even if they had spent several hours talking to her, even giving her a welcome packet.
She looked up when the hospital doors opened and a shimmer entered the room. The shimmer soon revealed itself to be the boy William Potter from earlier. He pulled a chair over and sung his leg over the back of it to sit down.
"Hi." He politely said.
"Hello. Won't you get into trouble?" she asked.
He shrugged, "No more than usual. I thought you could use a friend right about now."
"And so you volunteered?" She sneered.
"Well its not like there is a major committee or something." he replied, "But if you don't want any company I'll just leave."
"No. Please." She begged suddenly. She didn't want to be alone right now after all she thought. "Please. As long as you keep your hands and everything else to yourself you can stay." She did still want to establish boundaries.
He raised his hands in supplication, "Hey no problem. Dad is very big on consent. I am not sure what would happen to me if I broke that but I have a feeling they could find a very dark corner of the multiverse and drop me in it."
She felt a giggle form at his expression but managed to mostly suppress it. Sighing she looked at the shimmering cloak he had draped across the back of the chair and its white silk lining. "That's an invisibility cloak?"
"Yeah. Not THE invisibility cloak. Dad keeps that close to him." He said so that she could hear the capital letters in that word.
All she did was say "Oh."
"Sorry. I'm used to my mum Hermione who seems to know like almost everything there is to know." he said.
She shook her head, "I have utterly no idea what is going on anymore."
"Well let me see if I can help." He said with a grin.
…...
1900hrs January 12, 2011. Granger Institute Meeting Room 7. Alpha Dimension.
"So did you get a clean scan on her dimensional signature?" Harry asked.
Hermione nodded, "Yeah. But with the gate still down all we have is scan and soul swap modes."
"Great. So what does the scan say?" Harry frowned.
"Most of the usual suspects are there. We have their Hermione of course." Hermione chuckled.
"So are we going to do a swap to check it out? Harry asked.
Lavender shook her head, "If we do I do not recommend we send any females. We have no idea what this magical marriage will do once they are over there. Plus from her brief description it does not seem like they would have the freedom of movement we need."
"I agree." Harry said, "I'm not thrilled with the way she described the me from there. I have a feeling he wasn't with the Dursleys."
"Distinctly probable. Also she did not have a wand. So I get a feeling independent women are not high on their list of things they approve of." Hermione growled.
"Well even if we do get the gate open that leaves most of the Council of Hermiones out." Harry observed while Lavender nodded with a repressed grin.
"We are NOT a council. We just like to get together and discus things." Hermione huffed, "And since this is not a world we need to get involved with."
"We should check on her parents at least. I'm pretty sure she is going to want to know what happened to them." Harry suggested.
"True and we do need more information about that culture. All we have right now are the reports of one scared child." Lavender pointed out.
"Right. And while she is an alternate version of myself she only had a limited information base to work from." Hermione agreed, "Although it did seem females had some options available so we may be looking at a pseduo-Victorian model?"
"Maybe. Male dominated cultures are not uncommon throughout history, female equality and freedom are the exception more than the normal sadly." Lavender ruefully said.
"Okay. According to Padma we should have gate capability in a week. Until then I am considering doing a soul swap with that world's Harry. What do you think?" She said looking at her husband.
Sighing reluctantly he nodded, "Yeah. Send me over. I can at least find out what his circumstances are maybe."
"Okay. And I'll contact Neville. See if he can take a few days from Hogwarts to come do a swap with his counterpart." Hermione said.
"Yippie-ki-yeah" Harry grunted standing to head for the transfer room.
…...
The Night of September First 1991, Alternate Hogwarts.
Harry opened his eyes to see a blurry ceiling. Exploring he found his counterpart's glasses on the nightstand. Once the room was in focus he frowned as this did not bode well to begin with. He at least did not have a painful groin he had to admit checking the body over. Once assured he would not be crippled he looked around.
There was a window allowing moonlight in to illuminate the room. A writing desk with two large tallow candles on it sat underneath it. A nightstand to the side of the bed had held his glasses and a smaller candle in a holder. A holly wand sat beside the candle holder so he at least had that.
Getting up Harry noticed that the pajamas were a rather soft wool and the slippers were leather. The wardrobe across the room seemed to be rather solidly built. So the primitiveness the Hermione had mentioned was definitely confirmed Harry thought.
Searching the wardrobe he did not find the invisibility cloak, nor at any place in the room. A lot of wool and thick, coarsely woven clothes though. School books, writing materials, and the usual sort of things a student should have.
A framed picture of Harry with his parents holding him as a baby sat on one side of the table. Harry looked at it sadly for a moment then replaced it. Lighting one of the tapers he frowned before extinguishing it and casting a lumos. The candle had emitted a foul black smoke that curled upwards lazily.
Going to the door he saw it opened into a small sitting room. A table with four chairs, a small fireplace, a rug and several other tapers and a small door beside the bedroom. A small window was beside the fireplace.
Opening one door he found a closet with several heavy traveling cloaks and boots. Another door led into a small bathing and relief chamber. The facilities looked quite primitive but at least did not smell. A window was in this room as well.
Leaving the rooms he walked the corridors. His wand light the only illumination he noticed the corridors had torches in their sconces every so often. The paintings that he saw grumbled slightly in their frames as he passed by. Most of them various males form the local history he supposed although there was one of a pregnant female bathing, another of a pregnant female being cared for by house elves.
Making note of them he frowned as he tried to find any common rooms. Since he had not found the Marauder's Map in the possessions of his counterpart he was having to wander blindly around the castle. Fortunately after years of experience he had a lot of stealth skills.
Giving up on finding a common room he headed for what he though would be Myrtle's bathroom. She was a rather consistent part of each universe they had discovered. Only a very few did she not exist in her ghostly form for one reason or another.
Pushing open that bathroom door he was greeted by a dank musty aroma. Entering carefully he called out softly, "Myrtle?"
A moment later a gurgling sploosh came from one of the stalls and the pale glowing figure drifted through the wall. "Lord Potter?" she asked.
"Uh sort of." Harry replied.
"No you're his body, but not his soul." Myrtle sighed floating closer.
Harry looked at the girl wondering what had happened. She was wearing a simple shift dress with a robe loosely tied over it. She had a slight swell indicating she had been pregnant when she expired. Otherwise she resembled the Myrtles he had met before.
"Well to be honest I am an interdimensional explorer borrowing his body for a few hours to explore this place. I was hoping I could talk to you since everyone else seems to be asleep."
Myrtle chuckled, "Early to bed, early to rise as the colonial said."
"The colonial?" Harry asked in confusion.
"You know the one that helped put down their little revolution back in the 1700s. Benjamin Franklin." Myrtle said. "Oh. Wait. Things went differently where you're from."
"Just a bit." Harry nodded, "So uh. Can you tell me a little bit about things around here?"
"Well what do you want to know?" Myrtle asked softly.
"First off did you die from the basilisk?"
"Is that what that thing was? I had no idea all I know is that Tom brought me here and told me to wait while he did something." She frowned. "The next thing I knew I felt my body stiffen and my heart stopped. So did my babies." She rubbed her belly sadly.
"Tom? Tom Riddle?"
"My husband's best friend." She said with a sigh. "The hat never did find a girl so we helped take care of him as much as possible. Within the boundaries of our marriage bonds."
"About that. Marriage bonds, the hat finding a husband for you?"
Myrtle nodded, "I liked to study history. My husband was a Ravenclaw so I was allowed access to the library, as long as I did my wifely duties."
Harry blinked rapidly as he thought about how Hermione would react to his report. He did not enjoy the prospect of telling her this tidbit.
"So how did this all come about?"
Myrtle sighed, "The founders realized that muggles were out breeding magicals. No mater what they did. So the four of them created a safe place in the wilderness of Scotland to breed more magicals. Young magicals were forced to come here and by magical bonds created by Rowena Ravenclaw herself our fertility was increased and we were put with a male who was most compatible. Gryffindor's hat was used to determine that while Hufflepuff ensured we were taught the proper duties of a witch. Take care of the home, carry our wizard's children."
"You mean women aren't allowed to hold careers?" Harry asked in horror.
"Well during the Victorian era there was some revolt and upheaval causing women to be admitted to the teaching and healer's guilds. But not really a whole lot."
"What if they choose to go to the muggle world?" Harry suggested.
"How? We would have to have our husband's permission to do so. He holds our wealth, our very bodies."
"So you're enslaved to him?" Harry growled. Maybe Hermione wouldn't have to do anything as he would blow this place apart.
"No. No. Not outright. But our bonds require us to obey and defer to him. It just feels right and better if we do. Plus its the natural order of things." she said with a gentle smile.
"Uh. No. Not everywhere." Harry shook his head.
Myrtle sighed as she hovered, "It is that way here though."
Harry frowned but before he could say anything else he felt the swirling dissolution of the transfer taking place.
…...
2100hrs, January 12, 2011, Alpha Universe, Granger Institute Travel room.
Coming back he blinked rapidly as he reintegrated with himself. Seeing Hermione and lavender coming over he stood up quickly hugging Hermione, she was startled then hugged him back.
"It was that bad?" She asked.
"Myrtle was telling me about their marriage bonds." He shook his head, "Not exactly slavery but pretty close. The power balance is definitely on the side of the males."
"We noticed that about your counterpart. He was a rather charming fellow." Lavender said with a sarcastic grimace.
"Myrtle was pregnant when she was killed. Apparently their Tom was unable to be matched by the hat." Harry said, "He used her in the ritual as usual."
"Great. Which means they have their Horcruxes and Voldemort to deal with." Lavender sighed with a frown, "Which do we help or do we let them deal with it?"
Hermione scowled, "Right at the moment I am inclined to let them deal with it on their own. Besides we don't know if this is a world where Voldemort is the good guy or not."
"Now that is always a weird idea. I have no idea how I would feel working with him instead of against him." Harry said with a sigh.
"Really." Lavender shook her head, "Well I need to get these reports done and then if our master lets us go home Padma and I want to snuggle on the couch with some hot cocoa."
Hermione playfully slapped her on the shoulder, "Go ahead and go home. I think we're done for the night and the third shifters can handle it."
Lavender grinned as she curtsied, "Thank you milady."
"Can we go up to Hogwarts and check on our new friend. I want to make sure she wasn't bothered by his soul coming over." Harry frowned.
Hermione nodded, "I thought about that. Her bond must have been permanently dissolved when she came over here. She was unharmed and had already made a friend."
"Oh really? The usual Granger charm at work then." Harry chuckled. "So who is the lucky guy?"
"Your son William." She said with a slight smirk.
"Will?" Harry looked confused, "Oh."
"Somehow you don't seem as happy. She has someone nice, who will not take advantage of her or push her for anything."
"Yeah. I just. I dunno. Don't you think its a bit weird for my son to be interested in a version of you?" Harry asked as they headed out of the travel room.
"No. Because she's not me. Harry all of the various mes running around this place already, they are a different and unique person. We may look similar, or even alike but each of us is an individual. Not a single one of the versions of me are the exact same as me in personality. Right now he's not doing anything but being her friend. Someday, if things progress to the point where they become more than friends its not like he's genetically related to me so being with her wouldn't matter. So what's the problem?" Hermione took his arm as they headed for the floos.
"No problem I guess. I think I just realized that he's getting old enough to discover that girls are rather more interesting than just another Quidditch player." Harry chuckled wryly.
"Well old man let's go home and let me show you how interesting I can be." She whispered in his ear before going through the floo.
Grinning he followed close behind her.
…...
0600hrs, January 13, 2011, Alpha Universe, Hogwarts Hospital Wing
The next morning twelve year old Hermione woke up in the hospital wing at Hogwarts. She was wearing comfortable pajamas, curtains had been pulled around her bed for her own privacy.
She sat up thinking about her conversation last night with William Potter. She snorted at how odd it was to hear him refer to the boy she had just escaped as his father. He had finally gone back to his Gryffindor Tower when she began to keep yawning around midnight.
The things he had told her about the world she now found herself in seemed like something out of a storybook. The British Empire was no more? France was no longer a monarchy, neither was Russia. America was its own country. Humans had gone to the moon. It was all insane. She would have to re-learn her entire history.
As she sat thinking, she heard two people talking as they approached her. Bracing herself she waited trying not to panic.
"Miss Granger may we join you?" Minerva McGonnagal called out.
"Uh yes." She replied. Crossing her arms over her budding bosom she tensed. William had told her this McGonnagal was a nice and kindly woman but she still didn't know her so was not going to trust her.
When the curtain was pulled the older woman smiled warmly at her. While another version of herself smiled back as well. This version was missing one of her front teeth and had a rather rounder plumper body then the one from last night Hermione observed. She also carried a rather large satchel over her shoulder.
"Hello Miss Granger. I am Headmistress McGonnagal. This is Hermione Weasley."
"Weasley?" Hermione asked. "You're not another me?"
"I am but since I'm older I got married to someone." She said with a sad smile, "Do you mind if we sit and talk?"
"Its your school." Hermione the younger said.
"Ms Weasley is not a member of the school faculty. She has been assigned as your temporary guardian until you can decide who you would like to take care of you." Minerva explained politely, "It was felt you might related to her better."
"Oh. Harry Potter isn't going to claim me?"
"Mr Potter does not claim people." Minerva said firmly, "Your concern is why he sent Ms Weasley."
Glancing at her left hand again to make sure the ring had not returned she nodded, "Oh."
""Don't worry. I'm not too bad of a person. At least as long as you don't ask too many of my kids." She said with a chuckle.
"You've had children?"
"Yeah. A few. They're at home with friends right now. Except for my oldest who is a first year here."
"Oh. So I might encounter him?" She asked looking concerned.
"Yes. Assuming you do wish to come here. Mr Potter and the Granger institute are willing to provide your tuition if you wish to go to Beauxbatons in France, Ilvermorney in the United States, Dunleath at Innisfree or for private tutors" Minerva stated calmly.
"I'll be safe here? I won't be altered or anything?"
"I take a very dim view of anyone who harms another student, and changing someone against their will is high on the list of things I consider harmful." Minerva said through her nostrils as she scowled briefly, "So yes. You would be quite safe to remain here."
"And I won't have to have sex with anyone or make babies?" she asked.
Both Minerva and the older Hermione frowned before Minerva replied, "Your body is your ultimate possession. Under our laws you have full sovereign rights to it and anyone who attempts to impinge upon, remove, or limit your rights to your body without your express permission or cooperation are considered criminals. That being said it is expected that you will refrain from any sexual activities until you are old enough to fully understand and accept the implications of those activities."
"So no one can touch me unless I let them?" She had been grateful that William last night had remained on the other side of the bedside table. It had made her feel a lot more comfortable.
"Unless the touch is required to save your life during a medical or other emergency, no. Friendly hugs and other such contact will be at your discretion. Be aware that if you join any of the sports teams at the school there may of course be physical contact and the Defense Classes do have a hand to hand aspect to them."
"Where would I sleep?" She inquired. Defense sounded nice, she wanted to know how to defend herself to keep anyone from taking advantage of her.
"The house you would enter has dormitories separated by gender. Boys are not permitted to enter girl's spaces, and girls are not permitted to enter boy's spaces. This is by magical ward. I am sorry but only the head boy and head girl get private rooms, aside from the professors." Minerva explained.
"I think I can be around other girls." Hermione said swallowing, "I just don't know if I can be around boys right now, at least not too much. Except maybe William."
"Yes. I have already spoken with young Mr Potter about his intentions and he desires to be your friend. Since he is most accustomed to the interdimensional travel situation due to his family I merely reminded him to tread carefully." Minerva stated.
Hermione smiled approvingly as she said, "I'll remind him too."
"Yes. Well. As you will need school supplies, personal supplies and other essentials, Ms Weasley will take you shopping today. We will sort you at dinner tonight."
"Do I have to be sorted by the hat?" Hermione asked tensing again.
Minerva raised her eyebrow, "I will speak with the heads of the houses and see what their opinion is. I assure you that you would not be married to anyone as a result of this."
"I just. It felt." She stopped as she ran out of words to express her emotions.
"I will see what I can do." Minerva promised. "Now if you will excuse me I have to begin the day. Ms Weasley will take over from here."
"Okay ma'am." Hermione said politely.
Once Minerva had left Mia closed the curtain and began to pull clothes out of the satchel.
"I brought along some things that I thought you might like. We'll grab breakfast out and then hit the muggle shops before going to Diagon Alley."
"Diagon Alley?" Hermione asked.
"The magical shopping district. Its in London you'll see."
"Since you're me do I call you Hermione as well?" Hermione asked looking at the denims, trainers and long sleeved shirt as well as practical underwear the other version of her was laying ot for her to choose from.
"I go by Mia. We all sort of try to find a way to differentiate ourselves from everyone else." she explained as Hermione got dressed.
"So there's more Hermione's here than just you, the other one and myself?"
"There are six of us living on this world. But there are at least a dozen others I'm aware of." She said thinking, "Not all of us change our names only the ones that get together the most."
"Oh." Hermione said looking like she was thinking.
"So do you have a middle name?" Mia asked.
"Its Juliet. I don't like that. She died in her story." She said looking pointedly at Mia.
"Good point. How about Julie?" Mia suggested. "Its sort of your middle name only a bit more upbeat."
Hermione Juliet Granger nodded as she ran the name Julie over in her mind a few times, "I like it."
"Okay. Julie it is then." Mia said smiling.
…...
0900hrs September 2, 1991, World 0029 Sequence Delta 5, Crawley UK.
Harry potter walked across the parking lot looking around carefully for any signs of magicals, detection crystals or other wards and runes. Finding none he frowned and paused to touch his ear, "Hecate. I'm not finding anything at all around the dental offices."
"Understood. The house is strange. Like no child ever lived there at all. Its like they completely erased her."
"Is there still a magical signature of her there?"
"Fading fast. Almost like they wanted to scrub it too." She replied.
"Okay. Get out and meet me at Charing Cross. We'll try Diagon after this." he ordered. When she acknowledged he entered the dental offices.
Flashing his magical ID which he willed to appear as a local Police Detective Inspector he smiled when Hermione's father was able to speak with him.
"Sorry to disturb you Mr Granger. I was wanting to speak with you about your daughter."
"What sort of sick joke is this?" he demanded scowling at Harry.
"Excuse me sir?" Harry asked looking as confused as he felt.
"My wife miscarried our daughter and wound up unable to have any children. We took it as a sign that we should dedicate our lives to helping others." He said tersely.
"Oh. My apologies. We are investigating a person named Hermione Granger." Harry said flipping his notebook shut. "She is about 12. Claims her parents are Charles and Helen Granger and dentists in Crawley."
The man shook his head, "I have no idea what kind of game they are playing but our daughter never got a chance to live. I'm sorry."
"No. Please don't be. I'm sorry to have bothered you. Please accept my condolences." Harry said taking a deep breath as he used his magic to peek into the man's surface thoughts. They were muddied and bore signs of a highly skilled obliviator who had changed the man's memories recently. There were little things that stuck out but not much Harry noticed.
"Thank you." Charles Granger sadly said as he escorted harry out of the office.
…...
1400hrs, January 13, 2011, London, UK, Alphaverse
Julie Granger was amazed at how her life had changed. Mia had taken her to some of the best stores in London, Harrods, Selfridge's, and Grace Brother's, to get her clothes. Not even bothering to look or ask for the prices Mia had told her to just find something she liked and get it. When she questioned that, Mia just said Harry had given her a charge card and said use it, he wouldn't notice.
Her parents had never shopped at anyplace fancy. Going to Asda or Sainsbury for everything like decent practical people they said. Even if they could afford it as he was rich.
They were walking past the entrance to a pub called the Leaky Cauldron which had some people sitting by the window enjoying their afternoon. Turning through a wide archway to the side of the pub they entered another world it seemed like to Julie.
The narrow lane was cobblestones, with small two story buildings leaning tiredly against each other towards a large square with a huge white edifice with a shiny golden dome.
"Where are we?"
"This is Diagon Alley. The premier magical shopping district in all of the United Kingdom." Mia said expansively waving her arm to encompass the area. "Didn't you go there back home?"
Julie shook her head, "No. That world didn't have anything like this. I was told by the professor that everything I needed would be taken care of at the school."
Mia nodded, "Oh. Well that's the past. Now we get your magical supplies. And first among those is a wand."
"A wand?" Julie frowned, "Why do I need a wand?"
Mia smiled, "Because its a focusing tool. It'll help you channel and control your magic."
Julie silently nodded as she walked alongside the older version of herself. Looking at the Quidditch supplies shop, a clothier, some kind of strange joke and toy shop with a very tall clown mannequin in an ugly orange suit tipping its bowler.
Mia had opened the door to a small shop called Ollivander's that had frosted windows and a small bell that tinkled over the door. Julie felt a strange tingle go through her that made her jump when she crossed the threshold. She almost turned and ran but had begun to trust Mia, at least enough to give her the benefit of the doubt.
"What was that?" Julie demanded.
"Hunh?" Mia asked quietly as they moved to a set of hard looking chairs. An old man with close shorn gray hair, a long aquiline nose, and small pinched frame glasses was helping a short, middle aged, dark haired woman find a wand.
"The tingle, the surge of energy, when we walked into the shop." Julie was scowling around like she was expecting someone to jump out of the shadows on her. She did look back down at her chest and her hand. Neither of which had changed.
"Oh that. Since wands focus magic and there are a bunch of them in this shop it has a higher thaumic energy level than average. You must be slightly more sensitive to it than me. I barely noticed it." Mia explained.
Julie sat quietly thinking about that. "Is there a danger being around a lot of magic like this?"
"Nothing has ever been proven, although if you ask me it does make a few people a bit on the peculiar side of things." Mia had leaned over and whispered that conspiratorially.
"Now Agnes remember to be more careful with your wands. They are not meant to be used as soup stirrers." The old man behind the counter said in a high, thin, tired, voice.
The woman smiled sheepishly then paid and left.
"Ahh. Ms Mia Weasley. How are you today?" the man said turning to beam at her broadly.
"Quite well Gerald, How's your father?" Mia asked.
"He is doing well. His retirement has suited him quite well." Gerald Ollivander said politely, "Now what brings you in today?"
"I have a customer for you." she said nodding to Julie to step forward.
Not even blinking when he looked at her he said, "Another Hermione Granger?"
"I go by Julie, sir." she corrected politely.
"Very well then. Let's get you fitted." the man, "We'll have to see what sort of wand you'll wind up with."
"You mean not everyone gets the same kind of wand?" Julie asked.
Mia sighed as Gerald began to go into detailed descriptions of how each magical person had to be matched with a properly fitting wand to allow their magic to flow smoothly and without disruptions. How the wand was more than just a stick for waving around. She had been through this with her oldest son when he got his wand and complained why he couldn't just pick up any dumb old stick.
Julie though seemed to be listening intently as Gerald went on about wand theory and development. He seemed to enjoy having someone actually pay attention to him. Mia smiled as she recognized the intense expression on Julie's face as her mind kept working.
"So even though I'm 'A' Hermione Granger. I won't wind up with the same wand as any of them because I'm not the exact same as them." she asked.
"Indeed my dear." He said with a proud nod, "so let's see what we can do." He shuffled into the back with his notebook.
…...
1300hrs, September 2 1991, World 0029 Sequence Delta 5, Hogsmeade
Sitting outside the three broomsticks Harry sat reading the newspaper while Hecate read a book on the history of the magical society. They had been unable to find either the Ministry or Diagon Alley in London. Coming to Hogsmeade they discovered the village was far larger and more concentrated with the seat of magical government and shopping located there. It turned out that most of the magical world lived within the isolated valley in the Scottish Highlands with very few magicals living on far isolated moors and heaths. Cornwall, Devon and Wiltshire had isolated communities but the separation of the two worlds seemed far more solid than it was healthy.
"Well how disturbing." Harry heard someone smirk. Looking up he saw Lucius Malfoy sneering at Hecate. Harry was quite disgusted to see the man but not surprised given the time period this world was in.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked in a low tone of voice as Hecate carefully placed a bookmark in her page and sat demurely.
"Your wife is reading a book. The next thing you know she'll be having ideas." He chuckled, "What sort of world would that be?"
"I'm sorry Lord Malfoy. I was just looking at all of the nice pictures. My husband likes to indulge my little notions." Hecate said with a girlish giggle. "I do give him a nice reward for it though."
"Ahh. I see. Well to each their own then." he looked at Harry with a curious expression, "I'm afraid I don't seem to recognize you. What is your name?"
"I'm Harry Severn. From Cornwall." Harry explained with a barely deferential, "milord"
"Yes well. Mr Severn you should watch yourself in public. While we have no problem with people having eccentric behaviors in their home, that's where such should stay." He oily declared.
"Oh I know. It was just so naughty for me to wear trousers out. He's gonna get a really big reward for that." Hecate smoothly purred.
Patronizingly Malfoy chuckled as he said, "Well see to it that you do not wear those in public again dear. You and your husband might not find someone as tolerant and understanding as I am."
"Oh no. Milord." Hecate said batting her eyelashes.
Once the blonde man was walking away Harry threw up a privacy barrier and hissed, "What was that all about?"
"Harry this society is male dominated. It is actually a criminal offense for females to wear trousers here. Plus have you noticed everyone's breasts?" she pointed out the crowds around them.
Harry looked around and really noticed that under their shapeless robes most of the females had what appeared to be rather large melons. "Well Godric Gryffindor was supposedly a boob man."
"Considering how the four of them not only founded Hogwarts they changed the magical society and established the separation acts." Hecate said with a growl, "No wonder we've been getting strange looks from everyone."
Harry frowned, "Okay so what do you want to do? I'm ready to go home and drop a pocket nuke through the gate back here."
"Harry. That's not going to solve anything." Hecate admonished him.
"No I guess not. So have you found anything else about the Riddle?" Harry asked.
"He apparently was a rebel who wanted to overthrow the Ministry because he felt muggle-borns and muggles had too many rights in their world and that women had too much freedom." she said calmly watching Harry.
Harry clenched his fist around the paper he had been holding as he felt his eyebrow twitch. Actively clamping down on his emotions he realized he was imitating Vernon at that moment and wondered if this was how he had begun to go down his path.
"I know Harry. This world is messed up and they need to deal with it themselves." Hecate said reasonably.
Harry nodded as he folded the paper under his arm. "I think this world's not going to be a very high priority for tourism."
"No. Not very." She agreed.
…...
1700hrs January 13 2011, Alpha Universe, Hogwarts
"Ms Granger. I am pleased to see you refrained from purchasing most of London." Minerva teased slightly.
"Yes ma'am. Mia would have let me if I wanted to."Julie blushed as she stood by her trunk. It had multiple expansion charms on it that allowed her to fit everything she owned into it, along with a travel mode that shrunk it to the size of a small paperback book. Plus blood wards and other security features. Mia had just stood against the wall letting her go through the features with the salesman who gleefully explained the various options.
"She can be a bit indulgent. Then mothers do have a tendency to do so."
"Have you talked to the heads of house?" Julie asked, "Do I need to go through the hat?"
"I spoke with them and Mrs Longbottom is willing to accept you into Gryffindor. She says that you definitely exhibited the high standards of her house." Minerva said passing a piece of paper over which caused the robes Julie was wearing to ripple and become trimmed in the crimson and gold.
Looking at the paper Julie saw that it was her class schedule, free periods, and several other notes on it.
"As you are coming into the year halfway through, you will have to work very hard to catch up and we will test you at the end of the year to see if you need to repeat. You may of course have tutors and avail yourself of any student resources, such as the library." Minerva explained.
"I'll do my best ma'am." Julie declared earnestly.
"I am certain you will. Now as for more personal information. The Institute was able to send a team across to check on your parents."
Julie felt a momentary clench as she realized she had not even thought seriously about them since arriving here. That she had not missed them. She had never been close to them. A menopausal surprise and an afterthought it had always seemed like to her. "Oh?"
"Yes. Well they appear to have had their memories modified to not remember you. I am very sorry." Minerva expressed her sympathy.
Julie thought about it for a moment. Since she never wanted to return to that world it was probably for the best. She had enjoyed spending the day with Mia. She had acted like a mother more than her own had ever done. She had even allowed Mia to give her a hug when she left the school with the packet of paperwork to enroll Julie.
"Miss Granger?" Minerva prompted after a long minute.
"Oh. Sorry. I was just thinking. This is probably for the best as I am not going to return to that world." Julie said, "Now could I settle my things in the dorm as I see by the schedule there is still a bit of free time before dinner?"
Minerva looked at the determined looking young woman and had memories bubble to the surface of a long time ago.
"I shall escort you personally." Minerva said smiling as she wondered how Bora Bora was for retirement.
…...
Julie strode proudly into the Gryffindor common room in front of Minerva. Pausing in the middle of the room she looked around and saw several students lounging around in chairs and couches, William and his friends were playing some sort of game on a nearby table that had small figurines that looked like they were trying to swarm a small mud fort. When he saw her he started grinning, causing her to feel a small smile flutter on the edges of her lips.
"Good afternoon everyone. This is Julie Granger. She is a new student here. I want all of you to welcome her and show her the acceptance into the house of lions I know you are capable of." Minerva said.
"Hi. I'm Ashley Lupin. I'm the fifth year girl's prefect. I'll show you up to your dorm then we can introduce you around if you want." A tall brown haired girl with blue streaks in her hair said cheerfully.
"Oh. Thanks. That would be wonderful." Julie said politely as she followed the bubbly girl who was pointing out students as they started walking towards the stairs.
…...
2000hrs, January 13, 2011, Alpha Universe, Granger Institute meeting Room 47
"Well I have good news. Julie has settled in quite well. She's already making some friends and in the words of Minerva might turn out to be an even more ardent bookworm than another Granger girl she once knew." Hermione proudly said.
"Well that's good to know. How did she take the information about her parents?" harry asked.
Taking a deep breath Hermione replied carefully, "She did not show any major emotions. Merely saying it was probably for the best."
"That could just be acceptance of the situation. I'll talk to Parvati about keeping an eye on her." Lavender said making a note on her datapadd.
"Okay now what about World 29." Hermione said catching herself from saying the entire serial number.
"Well I was thinking we could release Chubs and Selene on there and just sit back for a few days." harry joked,.
Lavender chuckled, "I think there's a treaty provision against that."
"Yeah but oh man the Malfoy there made ours look downright polite." Hecate sighed, "Plus as he's Minister over there their world is messed up."
"True. But we cannot just go in and impose a revolution on them. We'll have to get their people to want one." Hermione said.
"Well since they have a Voldemort problem they'll have to deal with first I recommend we place that world on the watch list and check in every so often." Lavender offered.
"Agreed. Their magical world is rather stagnant and messed up. If we start messing around now that's just going to complicate things and get us in the middle of it all." Hecate pointed out.
Hermione nodded, "Alright. We can maybe slip a few feminist literature into their books and papers. See where we can tweak things a bit but stay in the background. Plus maybe see what the rest of the world is like."
Harry nodded, "Sounds like a good idea. So now that we have the gate back working, what's next?"
"As usual chaos, havoc and we continue to see what's out there." Hermione said.
Review Responses
Daarklyte: Thank you. I have and am trying to figure out the best way to do the story so its interesting. I want each episode to be something more than oh we show up, we look around and then we go home. There has to be some sort of hook. And oh yeah. Time is never enough to do it all.
Austrianshadow: Thank you. Yep I try. Well infinity is a rather large place and as long as I have new idea we will still see more. So who knows.
KGFinkel: Welcome. As seasons go by I will update the story guide with the various new characters and such. Oh and Ashley Lupin is Remus and Tonk's child from Alpha but ages more quickly due to her magical nature. Gerald Ollivander is Garrick's son.
Dude of Dudliness: Yes. I have no idea who all will show up.
