I do not own any of these characters, or locations, simply the plot is mine, and even some of that is inspired by the books and other stories.
-oOo-
Hermione McCallister wanted to consider herself a normal girl raised in Coggeshall, Essex, however, she was far from normal. Her parents were normal, her father was a doctor and her mother was a teacher, both respectable jobs for a man and woman, they would tell her. They had planned for her to find a career as a nurse, teacher, or even a secretary to a high-end firm, and that was when her first oddity appeared; she expressed interest in being a lawyer.
"A girl as a lawyer, Hermione? Goodness, what your imagination can create," her mother replied haughtily.
"Mrs. Anderson said women are working lots more now after the war," replied Hermione, Mrs. Anderson being her school teacher for that year.
"Yes, maybe for those women who like the company of other women," scoffed Mrs. McCallister, "If you wish to find yourself a husband with an esteemed career, you will find a career where women belong."
Hermione felt herself drifting from her parents further after each school year. School was showing her that women could work, women could be smart and think for themselves, they could pick up and read any book, and no man could stop her. At first, she was scared about going against her parents, certainly her father, yet each time she pushed just a little bit more and she saw more of the world for what it was.
The more of the world she saw, the more emotion she expressed. Her mother had raised her to repress her feelings, hide them, women's thoughts and feelings were of no concern to men, and if it was no concern of men then it was useless.
Thus, began her second oddity. When she tried to hide her strong emotions from her parents, her anger at one of their comments, her father's masochistic thoughts, her mother's depraving comments about her lady-likeness, she felt her control slip. When her control slipped strange things happened around her.
First it was the lights flickering on and off. Then it was the dinnerware shattering. One time her father lost his voice. None of it was originally associated with her until her ninth birthday.
Her parents barely acknowledged the day, as per usual, except with a kiss on the head and a birthday greeting. Although she wasn't close with her parents, she was close with her old teacher; Mrs. Anderson. The woman had continued to share her thoughts and experiences with Hermione, had been happy to help guide a young girl to live past her boundaries. She exposed Hermione to so many ideas within the world, politics, multiculturism, racism, class systems, and even showed her conspiracy theories to allow her to come to her own conclusions. Mrs. Anderson was a true teacher that wanted to raise her students to the best of their abilities, and Hermione was one of the few students that wanted to reach for the stars.
For her birthday, Mrs. Anderson purchased her Pride and Prejudice. She informed her it was written by a female author in the 19th century and her female characters were never superior to men. Hermione was ecstatic, her very own copy of a book, her very first! She had held it reverently throughout her day at school, reading it every chance she could. It was difficult to read, she was only nine and the words were written so differently than how people spoke, but she didn't care.
When she went home, she didn't think anything of hiding her book, but she should have. Her mother noticed the book in her arms and snatched it from her before calling her husband. They screamed at her for going against their rules, for thinking she was better than her mother, for not acting like a proper lady. They insulted Mrs. Anderson, saying they would be visiting the school to demand she was removed from the school for planting such despicable thoughts in her head.
Hermione endured the screaming, she was used to her parents' insults, but her eyes did not stray from the book. Her heart constricted each time she saw her father hold it too tight, wave it around bending the pages, spit from his mouth landing on it. When he noticed she wasn't paying attention and her eyes weren't moving from the book, he changed tactics.
Hermione's father enjoyed cigars, always had them in his breast pocket so he could show up any business associates. He reached inside his pocket, lit a cigar and when the red cherry was bright enough, he pressed it to the pages. Her eyes widened and a strangled cry released from her mouth.
"No, father, please!" she cried, tears streaming down her face. She had no friends, and only one trusted mentor and the one gift personal gift she had ever received, had a hole burning through it before her eyes. Her fear and grief manifested within her and released in a blast, the wind blowing out her father's cigar and blowing the book from his hands. It was when the book went against the wind and flew into her hands, good as new, that her parents realized their daughter was more than different, she was a freak!
After that day, her parents ignored her existence. She fed herself, cleaned her own clothes, got herself to and from school. They allowed her to sleep in her room, the one kindness they granted her, but she knew that it was to save face, couldn't have the neighbours know they abandoned their child. Mrs. Anderson had been fired; her parents had made sure of that. She was entirely alone.
Her tenth birthday passed with no acknowledgement, no kiss on the head, no birthday greeting. They had both left for work and had not filled the fridge that week. It was after that birthday that she began buying her own food from money she saved working in the shop on the other side of town. She knew she couldn't work near home or school; word would get back to her parents and they would be mortified and punish her for making them look like terrible parents.
It was her eleventh birthday that everything changed.
-oOo-
Hermione woke up at her usual time, to an empty house once more. She got out of bed and walked into the bathroom to prepare for a shower. Looking into the mirror she looked to see if her appearance changed with her eleventh year. Nope, still massively curly auburn hair, caramel brown eyes, olive toned skin, bow lips, and freckles scattered over her button nose. She jumped into the shower and prepared for her day of school before she had to run to the sweet shop to help Mr. Hubert. He was a sweet old man that had owned the sweet shop for forty years, his son had no interest in taking over, which left poor Mr. Hubert to keep it afloat by himself. Hermione quite liked working for the old man, even if it wasn't much money, he invited her for dinner with his wife often, this saved her having to spend her earned money on food that day.
When she was dressed in her uniform and had her bag packed, she was about to leave when she heard the door knock. Hermione looked at the door in confusion, no one visited them during the day, they knew her father worked at the doctor office during the week, and her mother was a teacher so obviously she wasn't here on a school day. No one ever came to see her.
Deciding she had no choice but to answer the door, as she needed to leave for school, she stepped forward and opened the door. Standing on the doorstep was an older woman, not much older than her mother, wearing a pointed hat, and what looked like a green dressing gown. Hermione's confused expression scrunched up even more. Why was there a woman at her door looking like she was ready for bed in an old Edwardian novel like her Pride and Prejudice? That was the closest comparison she could find, and even that wasn't at all she imagined when she read the book, and she should know, she had read it enough that she had lost count.
"May I help you?" Hermione tried to ask, she had to clear her throat a few times to get it out. An effect of not talking to anyone for long periods of time. She sometimes just spoke to a quiet room or herself in a mirror just to put her voice to use.
"Yes, are you Miss McCallister?" the woman asked with an accent Hermione had never heard before.
"Yes?" Hermione replied slowly.
"Are your parent's home?" the woman asked, her eyes glancing to the room behind Hermione.
"No, both are at work, can I ask what this is about?" Hermione asked as politely as she could.
"Ah, that is most unusual, I was informed their schedule would have them here until eight o'clock this morning," the woman explained. Ah, their old schedule, Hermione mused, the schedule they had when they cared for her, the schedule they still informed people of if they questioned after Hermione. Not knowing what to say Hermione stayed silent, "Well, I can always return later this evening when they are home with you?"
"That is not something that is likely to happen," replied Hermione honestly. She got a feeling her parents would not want to be anywhere near this woman, her odd clothes and interest in Hermione would deter them. The woman looked down at Hermione with an unreadable expression, it made her quite uncomfortable. Hermione got the impression this woman was like Mrs. Anderson; she couldn't tell you why she thought this but it was a feeling she had.
"Well then, I guess I will discuss this with you," replied the woman, "May I come in Miss McCallister?"
"Oh, yes, I guess," Hermione answered unconfidently, she was sure her parents would not appreciate her inviting a stranger in, but what they didn't know didn't hurt them. The woman stepped into Hermione's house and waited for Hermione to close the door and lead her to the next room. Hermione walked into the living room and gestured for the older woman to sit on the green couch, while she sat delicately on the arm chair.
"Miss McCallister, my name is Professor McGonagall," spoke the woman, "I am here to invite you to a prestigious school."
Hermione's eyebrows jumped into her hair, a prestigious school? She was sure her parents had removed her from all of their selected institutions after her ninth birthday. Something about not wasting their money on a waste of breath.
"Um, I don't understand?" Hermione finally replied. Professor McGonagall had glanced around the house while she waited for Hermione to reply, she knew Muggleborns took some time to digest the information, she always waited for them to indicate they were ready for the next piece of information. However, while she looked around, she noted that there were no pictures of Hermione anywhere. There were wedding pictures of her parents, graduation photos of her father from medical school, even her mother on her first day of teaching, certificates of their accomplishments, but absolutely nothing indicating a child lived here. She looked at the young girl before her and took in her appearance, she held herself with grace, but unusual for an eleven-year-old, she had bags under her eyes, and an expression in her eyes showing dejection and loneliness.
"A prestigious school my dear, you have a place at it," answered Professor McGonagall with a small, encouraging school.
"But, which one?" asked Hermione, what school could her parents have forgotten to remove her from? Or was this a special school to get rid of her finally? Were they going to send her off to one of those mental institutions, like that conspiracy that they lobotomize women who were 'hysterical and psychotic' but only went against social norms?
Professor McGonagall saw the girl begin to panic and wanted to ease her fears immediately.
"A special school," but this had the opposite effect so she tried again, "a magic school!" she said loudly over Hermione's hyperventilating. As the word 'magic' settled over Hermione, her panic began to subside and curiosity seeped its way in.
"Magic?"
"Yes, magic. Have you ever done something that seems extraordinary or unexplainable?" asked Professor McGonagall gently, at Hermione's nod she continued, "Well dear, that is your magic. You had magic coursing through your veins. Without proper education on that magic, it will manifest and escape from you at times of great emotion. This school will teach you how to harness you magic, it will show you the wonders of the wizarding world."
"The wizarding world?"
"We are currently in the Muggle world, the world without magic. You are a Muggleborn, a witch born of parents without magic. Some children can trace every ancestor in their past to have held magic, they are purebloods, children with one magical parent and one non magical are called half blood, and then there is other children like yourself. This school will have other children like you, other children just wishing to learn how to perform spells and create potions. It is a boarding school, meaning you would leave here in September next year, you may return for holidays in winter, and then school is finished in June. Everyone in your year will be born between September 1st this year, and August 31st next year," explained Professor McGonagall.
"That sounds wonderful," breathed Hermione, a sparkle of life blazing in her eyes. She was going to be able to get out of this house, away from her parents, to be with children like her!
"Now, you will not be leaving for school for some time. You may collect your school belongings any time from now until closer to your time of leaving. I recommend going before the end of summer rush, but not early enough that you do not meet other children as they will either be in school or have not yet received your letter. Which reminds me, here is your letter."
Hermione was handed an envelope made of what looked like aged paper, when she held it she realized it was parchment. It was addressed to her, with a beautiful hand script font, and a red wax seal on the back. Opening it she found a letter informing her of her place at the school, a second sheet informing her of her supplies, and a third sheet explaining how to enter Diagon Alley and the train platform. The last piece inside the envelope was a train ticket with a shimmering gold border and font, it informed her the platform was 9¾, an unusual platform number.
Professor McGonagall finished her visit with a congratulations and the offer to assist Hermione in her shopping trip. She refused and informed the teacher that she would visit when she had some free time, a comment that left the Professor even more concerned about the young girl's life.
-oOo-
The night following Professor McGonagall's visit, Hermione returned home from Mr. Hubert's shop to a dark house. Her parents had already gone to bed, no dinner was left out for her once more and unfortunately Mr. Hubert had been feeling too unwell to offer dinner that evening. Hermione sighed as she determined she was going to bed, on her birthday, without dinner that night. She was too tired to stay up and cook something, she was emotionally exhausted from the excitement she experienced earlier.
The months flew by and Hermione continued going to school, working for Mr. Hubert, taking care of herself, and reading Pride & Prejudice. In between reading her favourite book, Hermione read her acceptance letter. Over the months the parchment had become worn from constantly being held and reopened and closed. If it wasn't for that parchment Hermione knew she would have assumed it was all a dream, one too good to be true; an escape from her home – no house, this was not her home.
It was on a difficult day near the end of school that Hermione had a very difficult day. The children were getting crueler, as they aged they learned harsher insults, became braver about physically hurting her, and finally they realized that her parents would not stop it, not even the teachers. So, Hermione was the target of the whole school, if anyone wanted an easy target, or wanted to be well-liked, all they had to do was do something to her. A new boy, Matthew, had joined their class this year, and in order to be accepted by his peers and not be the outcast, he taunted Hermione daily. That day he decided to take it a step further than usual.
Hermione was sitting on the playground, facing away from all the children so she could ignore them, when Matthew came up behind her. Before she could react, he had grabbed her hair and she heard a snipping sound. He burst out laughing and ran away waving something in his hands. Hermione's shaking hand moved up to her hair and tears began flowing, he had cut off her hair, he had cut it to just above her shoulders. She never really cared about her appearance, but her mother did, it was the only thing she still commented on if she even acknowledged her.
Not wanting to show any vulnerability, Hermione stood up, wiped off her clothes and walked out of the school playground. It was only the last week of school, she argued herself, then she wasn't returning, so Hermione continued walking away from her school. Away from the children that aimed to make her life hell.
She continued to walk until she arrived at a bus stop that would take her to the train station and finally into London. People looked at her oddly, at one point she had to duck and hide from a police woman, she was sure they would question why she wasn't in school. Her parents could not know that she was going in to London for supplies for a magic school.
It was some hours later that Hermione arrived in central London, she pulled out her parchment and checked the time. It was after school had finished, which meant she was safe to ask an adult for directions. She inquired on how to find Charing Cross, making her way with the instructions she was provided. When she was finally at the place her parchment indicated, she looked around for the magical pub she was to find. She would have missed it if she had not been looking for it, her eyes had glanced over it a few times before she really concentrated and saw it. A dark looking shop front and a sign overhead reading 'The Leaky Cauldron'.
Starting to feel a little bit excited about the next step, Hermione crossed the street and headed for the dark looking pub. Walking in she was overwhelmed with the smell of dust, stale beer, and smoke. Well, it was not a child friendly establishment, she determined. She made her way for the back of the bar, greeted the man behind the bar and requested he allow her into Diagon Alley, as she had not yet purchased her wand. The man had seemed curious that she was alone, no magical assistance, but she had waved him off and told him she was fine.
When he tapped the bricks, a passcode that caused the bricks to begin moving on their own to create a doorway, Hermione's eyes widened. It was her first viewing of real, controlled magic. It was astounding.
The bar man wished her well on her shopping and her journey to Hogwarts. With a distracted wave Hermione stepped in to Diagon Alley. Everything looked incredible, there were people all around dressed just like Professor McGonagall but in all different colours. There were owls flying around in the daylight, she could see magical colours and lights coming out of the wands in people's hands. She even spotted broomsticks in windows, real honest broomsticks, like in the stories she heard at school that witches flew. It was as she was looking in a window that a realization hit Hermione, she didn't have any money for this, how could she afford her school supplies?
Feeling overwhelmed and stifled, Hermione moved through the crowd until she found a side alley that was not filled with people. She leaned against the wall and took in some deep breaths, she could do this, they had to have a bank or something she could speak to, she had heard of loans. She could maybe see about that, she was young yes, but her parents weren't magical so really, they had no rights here, they couldn't apply for one. With no other options, Hermione walked with purpose up to an older wizard and asked about a bank, the man correctly guessed she was a Muggleborn and directed her to the big white marble building in the middle of the alley.
Stepping in to the building felt a bit foreboding to the young witch. As she stood in line she had a sense that she had been here before, completely impossible, yet the feeling remained. She looked up at the bank tellers and noted they were not human, she felt an itch in her mind, that familiar feeling returning, the feeling telling her not to lie or deceive the beings before her.
When it was her turn to step up to the counter, the being looked down his long nose at her and asked what the bank could do for her today.
"Excuse me, so sorry to bother you or ask any ignorant questions, I am sure your time is worth more than I could comprehend," Hermione said politely to the being. The goblin looked down at the witch, surprised at the respect and politeness coming from her, it was unheard of for any witch or wizard to treat a goblin as an equal.
"We goblins at the bank pride ourselves in ensuring our account holders have no unanswered questions," the goblin spoke with a deep tone.
"Unfortunately, I am not an account holder. I am a Muggleborn, I am to attend Hogwarts this September, however, my muggle parents do not have an income to assist with my supplies or tuition. I understand in the muggle world there is such a thing as a loan, borrowing money with compensation, is that something that is available in the wizarding world?"
"That is not something the wizarding world has ever considered, young witch, the pureblood community have no need as they have acquired riches through the generations. Most half-bloods and muggleborns exchange their muggle money to our currency, their parents generally cover the cost, and if no parents are accounted for, the guardian of the child is expected to pay. It is unheard of that a guardian refuses," the goblin replied tightly. Children were highly coveted in the goblin world, to refuse to support a child in need was a crime against the goblin nation in their world, something he wished was true in both wizarding and muggle world. However, in all his years he had never witnessed a child unable to pay for their supplies, even that Tom Riddle years ago, had funds, he suspected Dumbledore had been behind that, wanting to mould the cruel young man away from torturing and collecting trophies, a task he failed at.
"Oh," Hermione head dropped in defeat, her shoulders slumped over, she wouldn't escape because she couldn't afford to escape.
"Let me speak with my manager, please step to the side," the goblin said kindly. He stormed off looking for the bank manager, he would ensure a solution was come to for this child.
Twenty minutes later Hermione was standing in front of the desk of the bank manager, a fireplace that could hold an entire person was behind him. The room was silent except for the goblin scratching a feather looking pen over parchment, she assumed it was a quill, one of her supplies from the list. As the goblin looked up and placed the quill down, the fireplace lit up in green flames, Professor McGonagall stepping from them. Hermione gasped at the display of magic.
"Miss McCallister," she greeted, "Ragnok, I received your message."
"I will not allow a child to be denied education based on funds," the goblin, Ragnok, spoke plainly, "Goblins may control money, we may be greedy, but never to the point of depriving others of their right. A lesson many wizards, and muggles, should learn."
"I agree wholeheartedly," answered Professor McGonagall turning to Hermione, "my dear, why did you not tell me that you could not pay for your supplies? Did your parents not agree with your place at Hogwarts?"
Hermione didn't want to look up, she couldn't look in the kind woman and goblins eyes when she admitted it.
"They don't know, they do not speak to me," she said quietly, so quiet that they almost did not hear her.
"They do not speak to you?" repeated Ragnok, anger building within him.
"Not since my ninth birthday," Hermione said, the tears she had held back finally appearing in her eyes, "Ever since they witnessed my magic. I have some money, only a little, whatever I made at Mr. Hubert's and what I have left after I buy food."
"Ninth birthday?" Professor McGonagall choked out, she could not believe it, this girl had been isolated for two years, "wait, after you buy food? They do not even feed you?!"
"I take care of myself," answered Hermione, a sense of defensiveness washing over her, she was independent, she didn't need her parents. Didn't want them.
"Oh, my dear," spoke Professor McGonagall softly, she wished she could fix this, but her hands were tied, the laws of the wizarding world and muggle world. Hermione was unfortunate in the sense she had no magical guardians to protect her, and as a teacher she could not step in and take her. If she could not legally take her in, watch her over the summer, then she would do the only thing she could. She would pay for her schooling. "Miss McCallister, Hermione, dear, I want you to not worry about school, anything you need for it I will ensure you have. I have no daughter of my own, I cannot take you in as a daughter, I cannot remove you from your parents, but I can treat you as a daughter, I can still offer you support. I want you to look after yourself in every other sense, in the summer you will unfortunately have to return to them. However, winter holidays you can remain behind, and my office door will always be open, understood?"
Hermione felt a warmth spread through her entire body at the Professor's words. It was a warmth of kindness, kindness that no adult had offered her besides Mrs. Anderson and Mr. Hubert. Tears welled in her eyes as she lunged at the older woman, her arms wrapping around her legs. Professor McGonagall was surprised at first but she happily accepted the hug, pressing a gentle hand to the girls back. Upon sensing her hand, Hermione came back to herself and jumped off of the woman, apologizing for forgetting herself. She had not hugged anyone since she was a small child, it had felt nice.
Professor McGonagall opened an account for Hermione and transferred enough funds to last her the year, making Hermione promise in return she would try to do well in school. Unfortunately, the professor could not join her on her shopping trip as she had to return to school and conduct some detentions for some troublesome first years in her House.
Hermione spent the next few hours wandering the alley, she got all of her supplies, including a wand that took her a few tries to find. When she was told it was vine and phoenix feather, the wandmaker had looked at her oddly, informing her it was a wand that promised great things from her, but she dismissed the event as she entered the bookstore.
It was getting late out, she was sure the shops would be closing soon, but she didn't want to return home and knew her parents likely wouldn't miss her. She decided that she would find if there was a wizarding hotel, maybe she could find transport too, they had to have some form of wizarding public transport. She would figure that out later, currently she was in a bookshop, she had never seen so many books that were not just medical journals in her home. There were categories on creatures, transfiguration, potions, charms, plants, even wizarding fiction. She quickly found the books from her list and began searching for some she could devour over the remainder of summer. If she was a Muggleborn and there were children raised in the wizarding world, then she was at a disadvantage, she knew nothing and they had been learning since birth, she had to catch up!
Two hours later, Hermione was sitting in a corner surrounded by piles of books. The shopkeeper found her and advised they were closing, much to her disappointment. Hermione paid for her books and as the young woman put her books in a bag, asked after somewhere she could sleep for the night. She was informed that the pub that she originally came through was also an inn, and transport was available with the Knight Bus, by just sticking your wand arm out on the road.
Once Hermione had a room booked and was curled up in the bed reading her Charms book for beginners, she decided she would stay here for the summer and use the Knight Bus to return home and collect her belongings. She would leave a letter for her parents telling them she was accepted to a prestigious school in Scotland and would return in the summer, if they wanted her. If she returned next summer and did not want her back, she would return to the Leaky and find a job to make sure she didn't spend too much of Professor McGonagall's funds. She was grateful beyond words, and she would make sure not to spend any unnecessary money.
-oOo-
The summer went by quickly for the young witch, she spent her evenings reading her textbooks and when she completed those twice over, she purchased numerous new books to answer all of her curiosities. She had returned to her parents to pick up the small amount of clothes she owned and her precious Pride & Prejudice book, the only belongings she truly cared about.
She still worked for Mr. Hubert, taking the Knight Bus to and from, and had become quite well-acquainted with the driver Ernie and the ticket man, Hal. She noticed when Hogwarts must have let out as there were a lot more children in the alley, and many older looking ones that Hermione listened to when they discussed the school in the streets. She was excited to attend the school, she had learned that there were 4 Houses and she most definitely did not want to be in Slytherin being a Muggleborn. She had heard a lot of insults and derogatory terms regarding people like her.
On a warm afternoon she was sitting in the corner of the bookstore that she claimed every day, she was reading a book on the constellations and how the placement of the stars in the night sky could help with diviniation and prophecies, magic that Hermione could not get behind even after all this time in the magical realm.
"That right there is the Regulus star, brightest star in Leo," a voice spoke pulling her from her quiet reading. No one had ever approached her; she had never interacted with any other children in Diagon. Yet when she looked up, a young boy stood in front of her, he had black hair that was slicked back, stormy grey eyes, an aristocratic nose, and pale skin. He was standing tall and with an air of nobility about him, however he was not looking down at her, he was merely making conversation.
"As I was learning, also considered brightest in the entire sky," she replied.
"I would have to agree with that sentiment," said the boy, "Allow me to introduce myself, Regulus Arcturus Black."
Hermione smiled at his introduction; the boy was named after the very star she was reading about. She quickly stood up and brushed off any dirt from her skirt.
"Hermione," she replied, her hand stretching out to take his. She left her last name out; she had learned quickly from observation that last names meant a lot here. They indicated blood purity and she would not let anyone write her off immediately without getting to know her.
Regulus didn't inquire about her name, she thought she saw him about to ask but he appeared to change his mind and continue talking to her about the constellations. They talked for hours, he told her he was also starting his first year, he had an older brother a year older, but they weren't speaking much right now. He told her about his mother wanting him to follow the family traditions and join Slytherin, which disappointed her, and him when she told him she hoped to be in Ravenclaw. She asked him so many questions, and if any of them gave away her status, he didn't say anything.
When he heard a woman screeching his name, he jumped up quickly and left, promising to come and visit her again. She had explained that she was staying at the Leaky over the summer as her parents were away for the end of summer.
The last two weeks of the summer went by with Hermione and Regulus meeting up every few days. Regulus had told her that he would leave when his brother went to his friend's house, and his parents were busy with their roles that he could do as he pleased. They were best friends, something neither had ever had, she admitted to her parent's lack of care (without mentioning their lack of magic or that it was because of magic they hated her).
It was on the last week that they met another boy, he had sandy brown hair and stormy green eyes, he had a nervous twitch and held himself in an almost submissive stance. Hermione and Regulus had been walked to Fortescue's for ice cream when Hermione was bumped by the boy, Regulus had demanded an apology to which the boy tried to stutter out. Hermione felt bad for him, a man with him was holding his arm tightly and looking down at them all with a sneer.
"Crouch's do not apologize," said the man, pulling at his son a bit more.
"As a Black, I will accept no apology," Regulus glared at the older man.
"I have better things to take care of Barty. I will send Winky to collect you," and the man shoved the boy, Barty, from him and stormed off down the street. Hermione reached forward and steadied the boy before he fell.
"I'm so, sorry," stuttered the boy.
"No apologies needed Barty," Hermione said kindly, "It was that man that made you collide with us."
"My f-father," he said.
"Would you like to come have some ice cream with us?" asked Regulus, he felt bad for the boy.
"W-Winky will be here s-soon," Barty replied, he was ringing his hands and his eyes were darting around the alley.
"Your House Elf?" asked Regulus, at Barty's nod he continued, "Good thing they have to obey their masters, so you can tell her to sod off."
Barty looked up at Regulus with wide eyes, he could never ignore an order from his father.
"You really want me to come with you?" he finally asked, a bit more confidence in his voice.
"Come on, are you going into first year?" Hermione asked, leading the nervous boy to the ice cream shop.
Barty stayed with them for ice cream, they learned his name was Barty Crouch Jr, that he was also going to be first year like them, and his father was the Head Auror in the ministry. His father was very strict and believed that how his family acted was a reflection on him, which meant Barty was constantly reprimanded for how he was not acting how the son of an auror should act. When Winky appeared, Regulus told Barty to order the elf to return for him in one hour and not to tell his father.
Learning that he could order his elf to apparate him and keep information from his father, Barty made it a habit to visit the alley every day to see his new friends. A couple of days before school started, Hermione admitted to them that she was a Muggleborn, both were shocked as she knew so much about their world, and absorbed so much information quickly that they knew she would do well in her schoolwork. Regulus admitted his family was very anti-muggles and hated muggleborns, his brother had been sorted into Gryffindor and labelled a blood traitor. Hermione had said she understood if he had to stop talking to her, however, Regulus had stomped that down.
"Sirius takes all of the eyes off of me, if anyone asks in Slytherin I might have lie and pretend I am using you, I am sorry about that. I want to stay your friend though, I just won't draw too much attention," he had promised.
Barty had said he didn't care and told her that she could deceive everyone with her knowledge, he couldn't wait to see her using magic at school. He also didn't need to worry about his family, he said his father didn't care about anything he did, as long as it didn't look bad on him.
By the time August 31st arrived, they were three best friends excited to see each other on the platform tomorrow and begin their Hogwarts journey.
-oOo-
A/N: This was a big filler chapter to share her upbringing and lead you to her journey to Hogwarts. Let me know what you think, what do you think of the new trio? Especially them meeting BEFORE Hogwarts!