The trip on the Knight Bus wasn't as bad as she thought it would be, having decided to sit in the back away from the other passengers. There were only four people who had to be dropped off before her, so she took the time to talk to her new owl. She was a pretty thing.
"I think you're beautiful. It's like you took a dip in space and came back looking like the stars. Realistically that's improbable, but you are beautiful," she said softly.
The owl in question, nibbled softly on her fingers, allowing Hermione to pet her through the cage.
"Of course you have to have a name though. What should we call you?" she asked the bird quietly, knowing she could hear her clearly.
"How about… Elara?" she asked gently.
The owl hooted quietly and nuzzled against Hermione's fingers.
"Elara is fitting. A beautiful name for a beautiful girl. One who will be kept hidden from others whom are jealous," she whispered to the owl, "I am not ashamed of you but times are coming where no one must know you are mine. For your safety. Okay? If you want, Crookshanks can explain it to you better."
The owl looked at her new witch with her large black eyes taking in every detail she could. She was pleasantly surprised that her witch had finally come into her life. The sooty owl made sure to scare off potential buyers until her witch or wizard came for her. Like most familiars as soon as they met, they simply knew. She was the slightest bit upset for all of two seconds to see that her witch had another familiar. He was commanding for a half-kneazle, strong too. Surprisingly his presence calmed her just the same as the witch's did. They were hers and she was theirs. She decided she would speak with the feline one soon.
Soon they arrived at the Gates of Hogwarts and Hermione gathered her belongings and familiars quickly before stepping off the bus as though she owned it. They asked for her name and she refused to give them one, merely raising her eyebrow and standing impossibly straight. She gave off the appearance of high society with little choice than to be on the bus; being a witch made it seem like she was a pureblood and she was left to her own devices.
The bus pulled away as soon as she was safely off of it. The petite witch took a few steps towards the gate before Professor Moody… well Crouch Jr. appeared before her.
His magical eye peered at her and her luggage before he flashed her a quick smile as he opened the gate.
"Miss Granger, nice to see that ye've arrived safely," he said in his raspy voice.
"Thank you, Professor. Would you by chance happen to know where Harry is?" she asked politely.
"I believe he be on the quidditch pitch with Mr. Weasley. But first I think it would be best if we got yer things in the castle!" he said loudly.
"Yes, sir," she said.
Professor Moody then flicked his wand at her things so they wouldn't have to carry them to the castle. Normally one would tell the witch to leave them there and an elf would bring it for them, however Moody was a paranoid one and would prefer to make sure that his belongings made it where they belong without being tampered with.
"Thank you, Professor," she said, happy at the trailing luggage.
She quickly turned around and opened the cage that held Elara.
"To the owlery with you. Behave, but don't let anyone walk over you. Try to make friends with Hedwig, she's a snow owl. Quick now," she said as she let the medium sized owl walk on her arm before it took flight.
Hermione quickly tapped the cage and shrunk it, fisting it into her pocket.
"Her name is, Elara," she said quietly to her professor who had spent the holiday with her.
They walked in companionable silence to the castle. Once they were in the castle Barty tilted his head at Hermione, "Miss Granger."
She nodded back, "Thank you, Professor Moody," and they parted ways so as to keep down any suspicion.
Once she reached the Gryffindor Tower she opened Crookshanks carrier and let him walk out of it as though he were never in such a thing to begin with. She rolled her eyes and smiled at his peculiarity. She walked up to the girls' dormitory and placed her trunk at the foot of her bed and cast her normal anti-theft charm. She then cast a small ward on the latch to prevent people from wanting to touch her trunk.
She didn't know what made her do it, but it felt like the right thing to do. It was low level enough that it could be mistaken for one that came with the trunk or one that was keyed to some small jewel inside the trunk itself.
After settling her belonging she made her way down to her head of house's office to check in.
Quickly parting ways with Miss Granger, Barty made his way to McGonagall's office to report that he let a student into the castle, as was his duty. If it weren't for the fact that he was a Death Eater and supposed to be dead, he would have rather liked being a Professor at Hogwarts. He hated some of the students and he had gotten in trouble from time to time for going against protocol concerning student discipline, not to mention grading the homework, but overall it was nice to know that he was teaching the future how to defend themselves. There was a war coming and he would be part of the reason some of them could defend themselves.
He knocked on the door before letting himself in after three seconds.
"Minerva, I let a student in through the gates. Just letting you know due to protocol," he said offhandedly.
"Which student, Alastor?" the older witch asked primly.
"Miss Granger. I suspect she'll be here to let you know herself soon though," he replied.
She looked slightly surprised considering that the witch usually arrived on the express with the rest of the students, "Thank you, Alastor. Was there anything else?"
"Nay. That be all, Minnie," he said with a slight growl and a wink, letting himself out.
The witch blushed furiously and glared slightly at the grizzled wizard. That wizard.
Quickly however she remembered that she was supposed to call Severus into her office. She walked quickly to the fireplace and grabbed a pinch of floo powder before throwing it in calling, "Severus Snape's quarters."
The fireplace flashed green as she got on her knees and stuck her head in, waiting for Severus to accept her call. Thankfully she wasn't left waiting long.
"Minerva? A surprise, usually you just let yourself in," the dark wizard said lightly.
"Of course, normally I would, Severus. However this isn't just a social call. Alastor just came to let me know that he let Miss Granger in through the gate. She'll be here soon, that'll give us a clear opening," she said.
The potions master raised an eyebrow at this, it was good luck.
"I'll be there soon," he said and ended the floo call.
The curly haired witch made her way down the stairs, taking her time. There was no rush, she wasn't holding anyone up and had no one waiting on her; there were no pressing obligations. She arrived and after she reported in, she would go meet with her friend.
Speaking of her friend, she looked out of the closest window and spotted easily her friend in the air, flying with no other reason than to fly. She smiled at him, even though she knew that he wouldn't be looking for her. After a minute of watching her friend the witch continued making her way to professor McGonagall's office.
Hermione knocked on her head of house's door.
"Come in," the familiar voice was muffled by the door.
The hazel eyed witch then opened the door and let herself in. She was surprised when she saw the potions master in the room as well.
"I'm sorry, Professor. I was unaware that you had company. I was just coming to let you know that I returned just a few minutes ago," the young witch said plainly.
"It's quite alright, Miss Granger. Actually you were just the person we were waiting for," the elder witch said as she flicked her wand at the door, closing it behind the younger witch.
Hermione's eyes widened a bit. The potions professor then took it upon himself to cast a few muffling and silencing charms.
"Miss Granger, please have a seat. I'm afraid this will be quite a discussion. One that must remain secret," the elder witch said with her lips thinning a bit at the end of her sentence.
"We will require a wand oath," Professor Snape said, the first time since she entered the room.
Minerva looked over at her colleague and friend and nodded before looking back at her prized student.
"Professor, what is this about?" Hermione asked firmly.
"I'm afraid I cannot let you know until you take the oath, dear," McGonagall said sadly.
Hermione sighed, reluctant to take this oath, but held up her wand anyways. It was her head of house who returned the motion.
"I solemnly swear to keep whatever information imparted to me will be kept secret."
A thin blue wisp of magic crept from her wand and ghosted over like smoke until it touched her professor's wand, which then glowed gold.
"Very good, Miss Granger," the elder witch said, sitting down.
The curly haired witch followed suit after tucking her wand away. It would be bad form to pull her wand on a professor… more so since she had done so in the past… more than once.
"Miss Granger, are you aware of what… transpires when Mister Potter returns to his family's household?" the potions master spoke.
It was obvious that the younger witch was uncomfortable speaking about her friend, especially about something that was obviously very private. However she did nod hesitatingly.
"The champions' families are invited to the last task of the tournament, to say what could be their farewells. We have contacted the Dursley's… however it would seem that if we sent an owl, it would have been intercepted by the Headmaster. Mister Potter's family has not been privy to the tournament this whole time, which is against school rules. Should a student be placed in a dangerous life or death situation, of which this tournament is no doubt, we are to inform the family or guardian immediately. The Headmaster has felt that… it wasn't necessary since he is Mister Potter's magical 'guardian'," the last part was said with as much sarcasm as possible, which was a lot coming from the potions master.
Yet Hermione knew what he was alluding to immediately as her heart sunk into her stomach.
"I have personally contacted Mrs. Dursley, and they will be coming. It would probably set the family at ease if a muggleborn were to be present, as Mrs. Dursley is familiar with them. However, the Headmaster doesn't know about this. It will be a surprise to him…"
"I'm sorry, sir, but wouldn't that be for best? Considering Harry's… upbringing," she said delicately.
"If things were as they appeared Miss Granger, yes. In the beginning I even brought up my concerns for Mister Potter's home life, as I do for every student that appears to have a… difficult home life. However, the Headmaster simply claimed that the blood wards were more important and that the boy would be fine. Yet I have spoken with Mrs. Dursley over the phone, she sounded as though she was going to cry. In the end, Miss Granger, she does… care… for Mister Potter. In her own twisted way, or else she would have sent Mister Potter to an orphanage immediately."
"Miss Granger, that is not the only reason we asked for the oath," the transfiguration professor spoke up.
"There's more?" the witch asked surprised.
"The war is coming… Miss Granger, it is imperative that you watch Mister Potter's back, so to speak. We can only do so much and you are closer to him, you've been doing so since the troll incident. Mister Weasley is close, but there are new… surprises popping up that we find we cannot confide in the boy," she said.
Hermione almost laughed, it was like déjà vu "I owe Harry a life-debt, Professor. If it's in my power to save him, I have to. My magic seems to think that even if I'm not near him, it is my responsibility to make sure he survives."
Severus's eyebrow rose at this information. It shouldn't have escaped his notice, an incident like that did not happen without extra consequences.
"And Mister Weasley?" he inquired.
"I already repaid it, first year. Getting pass the devil's snare, he was struggling and would have gotten himself killed if I didn't step in," she replied with a small blush.
"And your magic has not considered your debt repaid even after all the… help you've given him? Your wit has most certainly saved Mister Potter's life on more than one occasion," he replied.
"No, sir. I'm not sure why, so I simply must keep trying," she said almost dejectedly.
"Well, Miss Granger it appears that there is more at work here than we know. How is your occlumency?" McGonagall asked.
Severus looked at his older friend with a raised eyebrow as though it was questionable that a muggleborn know about the mind defenses at all. An obscure branch of magic that wasn't mentioned in any of the books at Hogwarts.
"My mental shields are efficient," the younger witch replied a little tersely.
Severus's eyebrow rose again, seriously doubting that the know-it-all knew what she was talking about for once.
"Then you wouldn't mind me testing that, Miss Granger?" he asked softly.
Hermione let out a breath of exasperation and reluctance, "Of course, sir," she replied dutifully.
Severus took his wand in his hand, on the off chance that she was telling the truth, her thin walls wouldn't last if he pushed just a little more than usual.
"Legilimens," he cast, staring into her hazel eyes.
The potions master was surprised when he came in contact with a wall almost immediately. It was as though she was teasing him, with it being obscure, like a bathroom window. The window was distorted and showed nothing but shapes, teasing the outsider with nothing solidly identifiable, not even emotions. He pushed a little harder, believing there might be a small crack of some sort, and was surprised again when it was indeed solid. The dark wizard then decided he would push harder, actually testing her limits.
Hermione's nose twitched in annoyance as she felt the wizard actually try to break into her mind. Her nose tickled last time when Professor Moody tried, and it tickled now. It was nice to know that he was taking her seriously now though.
The professor was starting to get annoyed and decided to ram into her shields, perhaps a surprise blunt hit would shatter it. He was surprised when instead he seemed to bounce off of it, like a balloon was surrounding it. He tried to pierce it instead, and instead met it solidly again. He pushed harder using more magic than he had intended, and eventually slipped into her mind, but it was protected by a shimmering ward. He could feel her emotions now, but that was all. And right now she was a mix of annoyed and amused.
The dark professor pulled out of her mind and looked at her surprised.
"It would appear that Miss Granger had given us an understatement, she is a master. Even when I passed her shield, she had a backup one. Her mind is safe…" he said, looking at her intrigued.
It would appear that the young witch learned a new form of magic under his nose, again. He knew last year that he had to keep an eye on her, but he was busy staying out of Moody's eye as it was.
Minerva's eyebrows shot upward, having watching Severus practically try to batter her favorite student's mind. At first she was concerned, but understood the necessity and allowed it to happen without stepping in. It would seem they would be able to rely on Miss Granger more than they originally thought.
"My dear, we have much to discuss with you," the elder witch said firmly.