Chapter two
After returning home, Hermione shrugged off her cloak and looked down at herself. With a sigh and a slight huff, she noted that with her new changes she would have to go shopping for a new wardrobe. Sighing again just at the thought she went to her bedroom and conjured a few boxes. Moving to her closet she took the entirety of her wardrobe and divided them into the boxes to be given to charity. Looking at the mass of boxes, now containing all the clothes she owned, she nodded once before shrinking them and heading back to her living room. Placing her cloak back on and securing the boxes in her pocket, Hermione left once more to Diagon Alley.
After dropping the boxes off, Hermione then made her way to Madam Milkens Robes for all Occasions to start on her wizarding clothes. As she entered she walked to the counter and asked for a new fitting. "Hello Madam," She said as soon as Madam Milkens turned.
"Hello dear, How may I help you today?" Madam Milkens said, looking at Hermione as if she didn't know her.
Hermione, seeing that the woman most likely didn't recognize her, clears her throat and looks around as to not be seen before speaking. "Um… Madam, I'm Hermione. I.. Um… I just returned from a visit to Gringotts, where a lot of hard truths were revealed and um… Well, My name is Hermione Potter, heiress of the Noble and Honest House of Evans. Turns out, I'm Harry's twin sister. With that said though, it looks like I require a new wardrobe sadly." She said with a frown as she looked down at herself once more, still feeling odd with her new changes.
With eyes wide, Madam Milkens looked Hermione up and down before ushering her to a podium in the back to take her new measurements. Hermione, feeling relieved moved with her and went through all the poking and prodding before giving an address for the new garments and having Madam Milkens ring her up and leaving to her next stop, which leads to the muggle world.
Making up her mind, Hemione went to the aperation point and, turning on the spot, disappeared to a back alley leading to Asda to finish her shopping trip. Entering the store, she went straight to the clothing department and chose everyday clothes, jeans, shirts, jackets, knickers, bras, etc. After feeling satisfied Hermione left the store with her purchases and went to the alleyway to shrink her bags and disapreate home to put her things away and finally rest.
Once home, and after putting her new clothes away, Hermione went to the living room to look over her folder from Gringotts while relaxing on her sofa. Shuffling through the many papers, she sees that all her estates have elves, not a lot but they are still there. Jumping up she runs to her room to change into something more comfortable before going back to her files and taking the list of properties with the elves. Steeling herself she grabs her cloak and for the third time, that day leaves.
Walking out of her building, Hermione went to the aperation point and looked down at her file. Leafing through the papers, she finds a few pages with a list of lands, properties, and estates she now owns. Shrinking the file down and placing it into her beaded bag she looks over the list to find a starting point.
-TOWNHOUSE, LONDON, ENGLAND
-ESTATE, GROUNDS AND MANSION, PARIS, FRANCE
-LANDS, 38.5 ACERS, TUSCANY, ITALY
-MUROMTZEVO CASTLE, RUSSIA
-LANDS AND PROPERTIES, SAN ZHI, TAIWAN
-HASHIMA ISLAND, JAPAN
-LANDS, 357 ACERS, SCOTLAND
-ESTATE, GROUNDS, ABANDONED MANSION, HAWAII, USA
-TOWNHOUSE ON THE WATER, ALASKA, USA
-BRAN CASTLE, ROMANIA
Nodding to herself and with a destination in mind, Hermione disapparate to the first location on her list, a townhouse not far from the Leaky Cauldron. Landing with a small pop, she looked around, the home was nice and looked well kept for the amount of time it had been unused. Once inside the cozy townhouse, Hermione calls out for the elves. Hearing 3 pops, she looks up to see what seems to be 2 older elves and a young one.
Seeing their new mistress they bowed, "Mistress, welcome home, hows can Pipper be's helping the Mistress?" The older female said.
"Please, just Hermione, and what are all your names and duties?" Hermione asked, not liking being called mistress.
"Yes miss-Hermione, I's being Pipper, ma'am." The elf said before backing up "I's being the head elf for these houses and the one that cleanses the roomses." She continued before pointing to the young female. "This is my child, Reinys, she being in charge of kitchens and the laundrys, and this being my mate, Tarron, he's being in charge of the moneies." She said with a small voice.
"I have a few questions for all of you if you don't mind that is," Hermione said, seeing the nod and big eyes of the Elves at the polite statement she continued. "How are you bound? Are you happy with not being free and how would you feel about having days off?" She rattled off her question.
The small one, Reinys, spoke up at this "Missy Miones, We's being free elves, we's being here by choice, the other mistress already talkeded to us abouts all yous saying. Its okays though you not knowing. We have weekends off, we's being paid 1 Galion a month and we's not being needing mores then that. Thank you Missy Miones." She said in what can only be explained as an adorable mousey squeak of a voice. Hermione looked at the other Elves and noted that they were nodding in agreement with the little elf.
"You said the other mistress? What did you mean?" Hermione asked feeling slightly confused.
Now it was the male, Tarron, turn to speak, and by the look on Hermione's face, she wasn't expecting this elf to speak with good English or to have such a deep voice, "Madam Hermione, the mistress before you was a Mrs. Lily Potter, your mother. She made sure we were stable here after her great grandparents passed. I keep busy with learning the ledger books and reading from the small library." Tarron said with a small bow, his floppy ears waving as he does.
With a nod, Hermione looks around the house before gaining her bearings back and looking back to the elves following her. "Ok, I might be back later, I'm looking through all my properties and whatnot so I must go. Keep up the good work and don't forget to relax when you feel the need to." With that said, she smiles and disapparated away to the next on her list.
Appearing at the Gates to a beautiful mansion in Paris was a sight to behold for Hermione. The whole Estate was marvelous. Expansive gardens, a fountain off to the side, just breathtaking. Placing her wand to the gate to gain entry, Hermione walked the path to the doors, taking in everything she saw. Upon reaching the doors, Hermione had to take a deep breath, she hadn't entered a mansion sense Malfoys.
Walking through the doors Hermione was greeted by 5 small elves, the oldest of the lot moved forward with so much energy, she was bouncing. With a small squeak and a smile she spoke, "Oh gosh, you must be the new mistress, I am Elyssa, the head elf to this misfit crew behind me, I am in charge of the whole estate and I like to read when I'm on my day's off. Next to me is my daughter Faelyn, she is in charge of cleaning all the rooms on the first floor, which includes the kitchen and the sunroom as well as the greenhouses. She likes to take care of the plants there as well as read anything about gardens. This young man beside her is her mate, Orris, his duties are cooking, and taking care of the second floor." She said as if in on large breath, taking Hermione completely off guard.
"Wow, so you are all free?" Was the only thing she was able to say before the second male spoke.
"Yes ma'am, we are, and we all learned to read and write when we were just elflings. My name is Beta Ray Bill, but you can just call me Beta. I'm in charge of making sure the library is up to date as well as doing all the shopping and keeping the mansion stocked with whatever may be needed. Behind me is my elfling, she is still in training, her name is Jupper. When she is trained enough, she will be in charge of taking care of any magical beings on the estate." He said beaming at his little elfling.
Jupper peeked out from her father's legs and gave Hermione a lopsided grin. With a small squeaky voice she spoke, "Hi, I am like yous hairs missy."
Giggling at the elfling Hermione nodded. "Well, it's nice to meet all of you. My name is Hermione, I would like it if you could call me by my name or ma'am, I don't feel comfortable being called mistress. I would also like to come back at another date to look more at the estate, maybe Jupper could give me a tour sometime." Hermione said with a wink to the elfling, causing the little creature to let a peal of giggles loose before hiding behind her father once more.
The elves all smiled and nodded, seeming to like their new mistress very much. Before she could change her mind, Hermione left the estate and returned to the gate to look at her next stop. Looking down at the sheet of paper once more, Hermione headed off to Tuscany. Landing with a soft pop she looked around to see that there was nothing but rolling hills and a small beach. Deciding to revisit another time, she ticks another place off her list and goes onwards.
Appearing this time in Taiwan, Hermione had to do a double-take at her surroundings before busting up laughing. In front of her stood what looked like a small town made up of UFO pod-like houses. With her laughing so hard at what she was seeing, Hermione didn't hear the small popping sounds of 10 elves appearing behind her. It took the clearing of a small voice to bring her back to her surroundings and with a gasp, she looked at the small creatures gathered. "Um… Sorry about that, it's... It's just that this isn't what I was expecting when I came here. Just took me by surprise, Anyways, My name is Hermione Potter, Lady Evens. It looks like I own the properties and surrounding area here." She said, taking another deep breath she asked, "Are you free elves?"
The one that cleared his throat nodded before answering her, "Yes, ma'am, we are. I am the new elder of the small clan. We are all there is left," He said with a sad look shadowing his face before looking back up and clearing his throat once more and continuing, "I am Elwyn. I am elder as I's be saying," He said before stepping back and pointing to each elf "This be Sylvar, he is groundskeeper, this is, Tyria, my mate, she be cleaning section one." He said pointing to the first group of houses. "This being our elfling, Ruvan, he being cleaning section two," pointing to the second cluster. Ruvan nodded with a smile before moving back and letting the elder continue. "Here is Nym, the caretaker of the animals and magical beings, there you have Akasha, she being cleaning section three. Then we have the twins, L-a and Carys, they always together, doing all things. They learned everything so they help with everything. This being Thalila, she being a mate to Sylvar, she takes care of the foods in the kitchen. The small elfling behind her is her childe Daenestra, she is being trained to take care of the cleanings for section four with me." He finished with a look of pride as the elfling smiled up at him.
"Well, it's nice to meet all of you, I will be coming back to explore more but I have other places to look at." She said smiling at them all, watching as Elwyn dismissed them back to their duties before turning to her once more. Nodding in his direction, Hermione dismissed him with a smile before looking down at her paper again. With her destination in mind, she disapparated to an Island in Japan. Reappearing and looking around, Hermione saw that this looked like an abandoned city, but more like a lost city.
Hermione spent a few hours walking around the Island before deciding there were no elves here and looking once more to her papers. With a smile on her face at the next location Hermione disappeared with a soft pop, reappearing in a hot and tropical place, Hermione shed her cloak and stowed it in her beaded bag before looking around at the estate on one of the Hawaiian Isles. Walking up the steps to the sad-looking estate she sighed.
A small group of 5 elves popped close to Hermione as she sighed making her jump in surprise before she smiled. "Hello, I'm Hermione Potter, Lady Evens, before you tell me about yourselves, I must know, are you free elves?" She asked
Each elf gasped as she asked this, the lead elf, pulling on her ears looked up at Hermione with wide eyes and tears brimming, "No mistress, please, we's good elves, don't free us, please…" The poor thing said before breaking into sobs. One of the other elves stepped up, "Mistress we's being here for a long time now, This is all we's know, please don't give us clothes" It said, grabbing its ears.
Looking around a number of elves gathered, Hermione made up her mind, "I won't free you but I have some new rules and conditions for you to be my elves." She said with conviction. Looking at each elf she took a deep breath after seeing them all nod with big hopeful eyes, she continued, "First, You won't be freed but you will take breaks and have 2 days off a month. How does that sound?" She asked, looking around at the group of little creatures. With nods of acceptance all around, Hermione nodded and spoke again, "Well, now that that's out of the way, why don't you all lineup and tell me about yourselves?" She said and sat down on the porch.
The first one to step up was a cute little thing with big aqua colored eyes, wearing a bright pink tutu. With a small voice, she spoke, "Hello, Mistress, I be's Honey, the head elf. I's be taking care of alls the other elf's here." She said and stepped back. Another small elf stepped up, this one with crystal blue eyes and what looked like a toddler shirt with trucks on it, He spoke with a deep but small voice, "I's being Alfie, Missy Hermy, I's being in charge of the plantes, making sures they be growing and taking the overgrows to the markets." He said, beaming, clearly proud of his job. Smiling at the pride on his face, Hermione felt a light tugging on her shirt. Looking down, Hermione saw an adorable small elf with light purple eyes and large floppy ears. Kneeling down to be at the elf's level she smiled. The elf cupped their little hand and whispered "I is Koraka, can I be's your elf, missy?" She said hopefully. Looking around, Hermione saw the other 4 elf's nodding in encouragement.
Standing with a smile, she holds her hand out, "Koraka, I would be honored to have you as my elf." She said. The small elfling latched onto her hand with a smile so bright and large tears of happiness in her eyes.
Honey stepped forward and hugged Koraka. "I's being so happy, you accepted my elfling." She said. Moving her head to the last 2 remaining elfs so they may introduce themselves. The first steps forward, "I's am Kolbilt, I do's cleaning, I can do's all the repairs if that being whats you wanting." He said with a bow. Hermione nodded and Kolbilt popped away to start repairing the estate. The last elf moved forward and bowed, her floppy ears touching the floor, "I am Nani Lilia Rose, I teach, or try to teach the elfs how to speak, read and write. Koraka is in the fifth year of learning, she is still young. If she is to be your personal elf, she will have to learn more. Would you like me to come along to teach her, ma'am?" She said.
Hermione looked down at the small elf clinging to her hand with a small smile and nodded. "Ok, you may come with me. I have more places to look at before I decide on my final permanent home. You may come with me or you may stay until I call." She told the elfs. They looked at Honey who nodded and nodded back. "We will wait until you call, Ma'am."
With that Hermione nodded and released the small hand, before looking at her list once more and silently popping away.
Hermione landed on the roof of a house in the water in Alaska. Looking around she whistled, trying to call for whatever elf's that may be here. Waiting for a moment it didn't take long for a small pop to be heard. Looking up, Hermione saw an old magical being in front of her. "Hello…" She said a bit taken aback.
"You must be the heir…. Lady Evens… My name is Natasha, I am a half elf. Half Veela." The being said with a light bow.
"I am, can you please just call me Hermione. I just inherited this home but I'm not sure I could live here. Would you be willing to relocate or are you tied to the lands?" Hermione asked.
The halfling scratched her chin thoughtfully for a few moments before nodding. "I have been here alone for a long time, I could relocate if that is what you wish, my lady. I am not tied to the lands but to the heir. I felt the blocks lift and knew you would be here sooner or later. Where would you like for me to go?" She said softly.
Hermione smiled "for now, could you go to my hawaiian estate and wait with the houseelves there? I should be there after looking at this last place. When I return I have an elfling and her teacher joining me to my permanent home when I decide which one that will be. Maybe you could help me decide? I could give you a copy of the list that I have and you can have a look, then we could go over which one would be best?"
Natasha nodded. "I could have a quick look-see and give you any help you would like, ma'am."
After Hermione copied her list, she handed it to Natasha who looked at it, saw the little notations that Hermione left and popped away. Nodding to herself, Hermione looked at the last location on her list, she thought "Romania, should be interesting…" She popped away.
Hermione appeared just outside a large castle, right as she pulled out her wand she heard a loud rawr. Ducking behind a large rock by the opening to the castle, she peeked out and saw a large pearly colored dragon. Cursing under her breath she called out to Natasha and Nani. Leaning her back against the rock she cursed while waiting.
Nani arrived first, looking around and seeing Hermione hiding behind a rock, she hurried over "Ma'am called? Is Ma'am ok?" She asked worriedly. Hermione nodded and pointed around the rock. That's a dragon. I have a friend here in Romania, he's a dragon tamer. I need you to bring him here. Nani nodded. "His name is?" Nani asked. "His name is Charlie Weasly, he works at the dragon reserve. Tell him Hermione Granger needs him, warn him about the dragon and tell him that Hermione has changed please." Nani nodded and popped away just as Natasha appeared at Herione's side.
"Hermione, did you know an Antipodean Opaleye is on the grounds of your castle?" Natasha asked, eyeing the dragon.
Hermione huffed and nodded. "Yes, I did. Nani has gone to get a friend of mine, who is a dragon tamer. He should be able to help." She leaned back against the rock and looked at Natasha. "I called you here because you were the first one I thought of, I was kinda scared." She said, shaking slightly. Natasha sat next to her and wrapped an arm around her.
"I'm here for you child." Natasha said, rubbing her hands up and down Hermione's arms. They sat like that for 20 minutes before Nani returned with Charlie. The two rushed to Hermione and Natasha.
Charlie looked at the two huddled behind the rock, one with red hair and bright emerald green eyes and the other with long black, slightly graying hair and dark forest green eyes, her ears are slightly pointed which meant that the beautie with the deep Auburn hair is Hermione. Taking a step closer, Hermione's head popped up and with a smile, she jumped up and ran into his arms "Charlie, I'm so glad you're here," She said, raising her hand and pointing to the courtyard of the castle that was rumored to be the home of Dracula. "It's an Opaleye. I came here to look at the castle I inherited and it was here. Could you help? I know it's a female, I think she's nesting." She said in a rush. Hugging her before pulling back from her with a smile.
"Hermione? Wow when the elf came to get me, she said you looked different, but I didn't expect this! You look good." Stepping back, he got a better look at her, she was taller. Pulling her back into a hug, he looked behind him and saw the Opaleye. "She is a lovely girl, isn't she?" He said, releasing Hermione and standing by the rock. "I need to see what else is here, then I need a plan. I need to call a few more people in to help, is that ok?"
"That's fine, I may have to employ you and Bill to take a look at my other properties. Do what you need and I'll have payment ready for when I get the all clear." Hermione said. "And with the different look, that's a bit of a long story."
"I have time, I can't do anything about the Opaleye until tomorrow, the guys are out of town. Let's head to my cabin for the night before we head out tomorrow." He said, holding his hand out for her.
"Ok, but Nani and Natasha are coming with me. They are my elves." She said walking to him and jestering for Nani and Natasha over so they could aperate to Charlies cabin. Charlie just nodded and popped them out. Once landing, Hermione released Charlie with a slight stumble.
"Sorry, I'm not too good with side-along. Are you guys hungry? I don't have much, but I'm sure I can find something." At that moment, Nani popped away and returned with three crates. Charlie looked at her confused.
"Do not worry, Dragon, I shall make dinner, I have everything I need. Ma'am has many lands with different preserves." She said moving to the kitchen and busying herself with cooking and putting things away.
Charlie looked at Hermione and mouthed 'Dragon'? With a shack of his head and sat down on his couch. "So…. Tell me everything. I know that you and Ron split, I know that you no longer work at the ministry but that's about it, mom doesnt talk much about you." He said as he looked at Hermione, trying to get ahold of himself. She looked beautiful, he's never seen anyone as pretty as she was.
Hermione took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before sitting down, motioning for Natasha to have a seat with her before looking to Charlie to begin. "Before I begin, do you know anything about the Potters?" She asked. He shook his head, not knowing anything but what happened to them when they died. Reaching to her beaded bag, Hermione pulled out her pensieve and placed it on the coffee table. "It's too much for me to explain so I'll have you watch." She said as she pulled the memories of the reading of the will and everything that happened until the Opaleye. "Natasha, if you want you can join him, that way you can see as well." She said
Hermione sat back on the couch, got comfortable as she watched Charlie and Natasha go into the memories. She was starting to fall asleep when they came back, Charlie looked at Hermione with wide eyes. "Snape? Really?" Was all he could say before chuckling lightly at the reaction Hermione had to the city of pods. "Why were you laughing so hard at the Pod-city?" He asked.
Hermione chuckled at the memory, taking her wand out and pointing to a paper on the table, conjuring a UFO. "This is what the muggles call a UFO, unidentified flying object. The muggles think aliens fly them." She said, Charlie laughed. Yeah, that's what they look like." He said.
"So, you're Harry's twin huh? Gotta say, I'm not hating your look." He said, Rubbing the back of his neck with a small blush creeping up, causing Natasha to chuckle when she noticed it. "How many rooms do you have here?" Natasha asked.
"Um.. I have about three, I only use one of them, they aren;t furnished or anything." He said.
"So worries, sir, I shall be right back." She said with a soft pop. Charlie looked at Hermione but she just shrugged. "Don't look at me, I just got them." She said with a laugh. Charlie just shrugged and leaned back against the couch. "You know the amount of properties you have is extensive, are you wanting me and Bill to help you go through them all?" He asked, getting down to business.
"Yes, with the help of Natasha, that is." Hermione said, nodding to Natasha as she popped back in. "Ma'am, the rooms are ready, and from what I saw in your memories, I know that you have at least three viable properties that are move in ready, are; your Hawaiian estate, the one in Japan is doable but needs a lot of work. I think your castles could be liveable but might be a lot for just you to handle." Here she paused.
"I see what you're talking about, I'll get the elves to work on the liveable p;aces, get them clean and what-not. The castles I have plans for but I'll have to check and see when they are cleaned and look like their former glory." Looking at Charlie she asked, "What do you think, would I have any problems?"
Thinking of what the two said, Charlie thought, going over in his mind what he saw in the memories. "I can agree with Natasha, you will need a lot of work on a few, I think the lands you own, you could build, make towns or parks, places for wizarding children." He said.
"That's what I was thinking, the castles I was thinking of making into schools and or orphanages." Hermione said, nodding at what Charlie was talking about. Hermione looked up towards the kitchen as Nani walked out with a small bow.
"Ma'am, I have mad food, you should all eat then get some rest, tomorrow you can plan and work with the dragon." She said, motioning them to the table. Getting up they moved to the kitchen and sat, looking at the table they saw a moderate Hawian feast, with pork and fruit along with a few different drinks.
"Nani, this looks amazing. Have a seat and join us." Hermione said as she started eating.
They all started eating with light conversion, soon all food was cleared and they were getting up to head to bed, ready to jump into the new adventure that may unfold in the morning.