Hello, fair reader. Just a little housekeeping I have changed some characters' ages to fit them into the story easier. Why? Because I can and I wanted to. Also, I don't want to recount every event from the books. Meaning unless the event occurs differently in the story or is mentioned, assume it happened like in the books. That's it. I hope you enjoy.
To those returning, hello, again. I know I usually post on Saturdays (for me anyway) but everyone had a rare Saturday off so we went to an amusement park for a family day. Next week should be business as usual.
Chapter 1 Witches, Wizards, and Druids, Oh My!
Just turned eleven-year-old Hermione Granger placed her backpack next to her parents' packs in the front foyer. "Hermione," her mother called, "would you look for the torch? Your father claims he left it in the garage."
"Which means under a sink," called back Hermione. "I'm on it." The Granger women were packing for a birthday camping trip in Wales with her maternal grandparents. A knock on the door stopped her. She peeked through the front window next to the cheerful lilac front door and saw a woman wearing an odd dark dress and a large wide brimmed hat.
"Who is it, darling?" her father asked coming up behind her.
"I don't know." He moved to open the door and she went in search of the missing torch.
She found it moments later under the kitchen sink. She knew he would have no clue how it got there, not that she did either. "Hermione, sweetie, please come here."
"Coming," she paused to store the torch with their camping supplies. She continued into the front parlor. "I found the torch under the kitchen sink."
"Hermione, this is Professor Minerva McGonagall. She wants to speak with us about her boarding school." Hermione nodded and sat between her parents across from the woman.
The older woman smiled, "Hello, Miss Granger. As your mother said, I am Minerva McGonagall. I am the deputy headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"Did Martin Smythe put you up to this?" Richard Granger interrupted. "Because we told him we're not sending Hermione to that New Age experimental school. And she agrees she doesn't want to go. We appreciate your excitement."
McGonagall blinked at them in confusion, "Mr. Granger, your daughter is a witch."
"No," replied Bethan Granger, "we're druids. A minor, but distinct, difference."
Again McGonagall blinked. She pulled her wand and with a swish, she turned her teacup into a tortoise. "No, I meant witch, not Wiccan. We can teach your daughter to reach her full potential. Hogwarts will introduce her to people like herself while helping her to harness and refine her abilities." After explaining the school she cautioned them about the secrecy.
"Can we tell our immediate family?" asked Bethan. "My parents will be thrilled. And we have to explain to my brother why we're backing out of another school. He wrote a letter of introduction and recommendation."
"And my parents are very involved with our lives," added Richard.
"We do not have hard and fast rules. So long as they maintain their silence it will be fine."
Bethan smiled at her daughter, "This does explain why you've always seen fairies and the fae when the rest of us cannot." She hugged her. "We're so proud."
"I look forward to seeing you next September, Miss Granger."
"Thank you, ma'am."
Richard escorted her to the door. Once he shut it he looked at his wife and daughter, "If we get a move on we can still make the 5:15 train."
"Yes!" Hermione pumped her fist in the air.
I believe we're ready," Bethan replied. "No one wants to risk life and limb letting you drive, my love." The Granger family laughed.
Jules and End Granger, as well as Owain and Iola Awbrewy, were proud and elated for Hermione.
Hogwarts was simultaneously a dream come true and a nightmare. In her excitement, Hermione unintentionally came off as a know-it-all. She just desperately wanted to prove she belonged. She feared being told she was too far behind and needed to leave. Her difficulty making friends followed her to her new school. Her drive to prove herself mixed with her shyness.
One evening, hopelessly tired of the stares, mutters, and whispers she went hunting for a place to hide after the library closed. At the top of the dormitory stairs, she found a small sitting room. She curled up in a small cushy chair to cry in peace. The portrait across from her slowly stirred, "Why do you cry, little Druid?"
"I miss home," she said, and once she started everything poured out all her woes.
"Ah, little one, in this I can advise you. Moderate your zeal. Only offer your knowledge when requested. Let others seek your wisdom. I must ask: are you a Druid?"
"I am. My family have been druids since the old days," she answered proudly.
"I suspected. Your presence woke me from the slumber of time. I am Amira Vesser, the fourth Headmistress of Hogwarts. I am also a Druid. If you consent, I would like to teach you our ways."
"Oh, yes, please," Hermione eagerly agreed.
"Excellent. I have a list of books for you to read to create the basis of your education. Before I fell asleep the other professors shared new books published to keep our knowledge alive." She provided Hermione with a list of books, instructing her to return when she completed the reading. Hermione collected the first three books the next morning. She dove into the lore. She completed homework as it was assigned to prevent assignments from piling up.
She sat by the fire reading about the roles of true Druids in Britain. Fred and George Weasley, Lee Jordan, and two second years sat nearby discussing Halloween. "Samhain is the autumn equinox," said one of the second years. "When spirits move between the planes, like Midsummer. Only not the halfway point, like in summer." Hermione made a face to herself but remained silent. "That's also when the Wild Hunt rides."
"Why the face, Granger?" asked Lee. She shook her head. "No, what? Something in your book?"
"No," she replied.
"Then what?" asked George.
"Samhain, or All Hallows, is the halfway holiday. Mabon is the equinox. Litha, or Midsummer, is the solstice. However, they are both gateway feasts. And the Wild Hunt officially rides around Yule. Not that they are restricted to those nights. They are chaos personified, after all."
"How would you know?" demanded the second year. "You're a muggleborn."
"My family are druids. We keep the old holidays," she said softly.
"Know-it-all," one of them sneered. "No one asked you."
"Actually, yes, Lee and George did. But don't worry, I won't share any more information with any of you. Wouldn't want to impose." With as much dignity as she could muster she retreated to solitude at the top of the staircase. The older boys glared at the younger ones. But soon the incident was forgotten. Hermione vowed that night to only speak when spoken to and never more than the question demanded. Her brilliance would remain her secret.
The other houses and older students noticed the decline in Gryffindor's climb in house points but had no idea why. The first years knew. Hermione Granger had not spoken to anyone, beyond answering a direct question from a teacher, in three weeks. And when answering she used the least possible number of words. This resulted in the minimum number of points being granted, not the fifteen to twenty most gave for her longer articulate answers. Or the larger amount granted when the answer was volunteered. She also worked on assignments alone, remaining hidden in the library. She was therefore unavailable to assist in the homework of others. When rudely confronted by Lavender Brown and Seamus Finnegan she stared at them before breaking down and saying, "I promised I would no longer impose my knowledge on you. You don't get to be cruel about it and still benefit from it. If you want to know more about any topic the library has numerous insightful books. I'm a horror of a know-it-all, don't you know?" While they stared slack-jawed she sidestepped around them. No one could find her after class as she retreated to Amira's portrait and her druidic lessons. Every night in the privacy of her curtained bed, Hermione weighed the delights of druid lessons against her misery. If she could have found a way to smuggle Amira home she might have asked to go. But since she could not, she would have to stick it out. Following her ancestors down this path meant more than anything to her.
Frustrations boiled over on Halloween. Somehow in the shuffle, Hermione ended up paired with Ron Weasley in Charms. After watching him struggle most of the practice time, hogging their feather, she snapped, "Honestly, like this. Wingardium leviosa." The feather floated up. "You're emphasizing the wrong place." She canceled her spell just as Professor Flitwick passed them.
"Everyone keep practicing, you'll master it in no time," he dismissed the class.
Ron erupted, "Why did you do that? You could have gotten us points. You're mental! This is why you don't have any friends."
She gave him a blank stare, "I answer too much, and I'm an unlikable know-it-all. I keep my mouth shut and I'm still at fault. Nothing makes you monsters happy." She fled before her tears could fall. The class looked at one another silently before filing out.
Hermione ran down to the second floor. She sought refuge in the girl's bathroom. She sat on the floor and cried for longer than she thought possible, letting out all of the pain of the last two months: all of the loneliness and cruel comments. Realizing she would miss dinner, yet feeling hesitant to join the feast and celebration, she stalled. She washed her hands and face. She heard the door swing open violently and crash close.
She smelled the troll before she saw it. She screamed from instinct. The sound provoked the troll into action. Before she
could react it knocked her against the sink. The second blow knocked her head against the wall. Her wand clattered to the floor and rolled away. Her vision blurred. She stayed on the floor, curling into a ball to protect herself. She heard voices, but could not focus enough to identify them. The voices yelled several times before she heard a large crash. Other voices arrived.
The mental fog cleared enough so she could struggle to her feet. She recognized McGonagall's voice, then Snape's. "Well, Granger, what do you have to say?" demanded Snape.
"Huh?"
"Why were you in here and not where you should be?" he repeated.
"I wasn't feeling well. I've been here for a while avoiding everyone. I was washing up when the troll came in. Everything is a blur. I have no idea what happened." She turned and vomited in the sink.
"I see," said McGonagall slowly, "Ten points each for sheer dumb luck. Next time try to find a faculty member. Please assist Miss Granger to the Infirmary. The remainder of the feast is waiting in the common room." The professors swept out the of room.
Hermione fumbled on the floor for her wand. The Harry shaped blob retrieved it for her. "Thank you. You can go, I'll be fine."
"You hit your head pretty hard," protested Ron.
"I am aware. I will go see Madam Pomfrey. You're missing the feast." She climbed to her feet and then clung to the sink for balance as the world spun.
"You can barely stand, let alone walk," Harry said.
"And you helped us. You could have admitted why you weren't at the feast. We all know it wasn't because you were sick," said Ron.
"Yes, because admitting everyone hates me is so much better than my entire House is full of bullies and I'm their favorite target," she rolled her eyes and instantly regretted it.
Harry caught her shoulders, "Sure, but you could have also admitted we've been first class gits and knew why you were hiding."
"We're sorry. Can we start fresh?" He paused uncertainly. "Hi, I'm Ron Weasley and I'm a git."
"I'm Harry Potter, and I'm a prat."
She grinned, "I'm Hermione Granger, and I'm going to spew." Again she vomited in the sink.
"You really need to go to the Hospital Wing," Harry said looking concerned.
"I know," sighed Hermione.
Ron linked her arm around his shoulders, "Friends help friends. And we're friends, now." He smiled at her hopefully. She smiled slightly and let them lead her.
"Now, my apprentice, relax into yourself as I've taught you. Focus on the stone below you, its strength and hardness. Let it fill you. Seek to know it. Once you know it, you can control it, manipulate it," Amira instructed. Hermione lay on the floor in the middle of the room. The cold of the stone floor bit at her. She began her meditation. Unaware of the passage of time she focused on stone and earth. Minutes, then hours passed. She felt her fingertips sink into the floor. She fought to keep her surprise from destroying her focus. When Amira called a halt to their lesson, Hermione smoothed over the groves her fingers caused. "You did very well. Continue to work on earth and the other elements. We will continue once you can manipulate them all."
"Yes, master."
Harry, Ron, the twins, and Seamus sat in front of the fireplace playing Exploding Snap. Hermione sat in one of the nearby chairs trying, and failing, to read as the others teased Harry about his first quidditch match the next day. She gave up and stared into the flames. Her mind emptied of thoughts as she watched the licks of flame dance. Before she realized what was happening one finger moved closer to her. It moved out of the fireplace. "Hey, look," shouted Seamus. He broke her concentration, the flames returning to normal. "Never mind. It stopped."
Hermione dismissed the incident from her thoughts until Snape hexed Harry's broom during the quidditch match. Everyone watched Harry's broom bucking in horror. Hermione leapt to her feet. She raced across the stands stopping below Snape. She pulled heat from the air thinking hard about fire. Snape's robes burst into flame. Those flames broke his concentration causing him to jostle into the people around him. Harry's broom resumed normal flight. By the time she made it back to her seat, he had caught the snitch, winning the game. She joined the celebrations with a joyful heart.
By Christmas break, she could summon all four elements and worked to control them. She struggled to most with air. "Relax over your break. You are moving through apprentice lessons rapidly. You have earned a rest."
The Weasleys remained at Hogwarts since their parents were visiting their older brother in Romania. Which made Hermione feel better about leaving Harry behind. Her parents greeted her warmly at King's Cross. "Granddad and Gran are spending the night to celebrate Christmas before we join Taid and Nain." Hermione clapped her hands excited by the news.
Her grandparents listened proudly to her accomplishments. She expressed regret that all she could only show them were her druid powers because of the trace, "We have to keep magic secret."
Enid frowned, "I guess this means no more accidental magic in the garden. Layla Johnson has been bragging her hothouse flowers are stunning this year."
"I could talk to them encouragingly," Hermione offered. "And get some magical fertilizer. Layla Johnson must be defeated!" she pumped her fist in the air.
"At any cost!" added Richard with a laugh. Enid's friendly rivalry with her friend over their gardens was well known in both families.
The next morning, Hermione jumped out of bed and ran through the house yelling, "Christmas! It's Christmas!"
Bethan appeared, rubbing her eyes, "It isn't truly, sweetie."
"I know," she said calmer, "but who knows how many more years we'll have mornings like these."
Jules shook his head, "Such an old soul. Alright, sweetheart, yell away."
"It's Christmas, Granddad!" she hugged him tightly. She ran downstairs to the tree. "Hurry up! Father Christmas left presents." The family exchanged gifts. As she often did, Hermione received books and clothing. Her grandparents also got her a stunning leather journal and fountain pen. They bought their son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter matching flannel pajamas for their Winter Solstice camping trip. This year the field of yellow and black plaid was covered in sleeping sheep. "Everyone's going to love these," she laughed.
Most years the Grangers joined Bethan's parents at New Grange in Ireland for the Winter Solstice. Bethan's brother and his family generally celebrated with his in-laws, a concession to not baptizing the children in the C of E. At New Grange, while the druid circles were granted permission to camp closer to the site, they were not given precedence in the lottery to be in the chamber at sunrise. Which appealed to Hermione's sense of fairness, which so often got disappointed. Everyone should have a chance to experience such wonder.
Arriving at their campsite, the Grangers pitched their thick canvas tent. Bethan arranged the thick padded travel mattresses while Hermione and Richard set up the lanterns and ceramic camping heater. Since only Richard could see her, Hermione magically lit them.
She spent the rest of the day catching up with her friends, Atlas and Sunshine Smythe. She told them generalities about Hogwarts and listened to them talk about their new school. The New Age pagan school they went to that her parents rejected to enroll her in as well. Personally, it sounded too permissive and lax for her. Such a school would have driven her insane in a month. She did mention Hogwarts having druid training available, which did impress her friends.
As the sun set, the circles gathered for the community meal and announcements. "Welcome to another Winter Solstice. Tomorrow we will welcome winter and celebrate the longest night. Wonderful to see all of us gathered together again. Last reminder anyone wishing to be entered in the lottery, be signed up by seven tonight." He glanced at his watch, "Which is in an hour. If you have been previously chosen, we ask that you do not enter your name again." He reviewed the other events and sunset rituals for the next day.
The Grangers retired for the night. The heavy canvas walls of the tent held in a decent amount of heat from the ceramic stove. Still, each family member wore their new flannel pajamas and added hot water bottles to their sleeping bags. Hermione stored her jeans and jumper in the sleeping bag to keep them warm for the morning. Richard set the alarm so they would be up in plenty of time. The next morning they bundled against the cold with clothes over the pajamas. They donned their winter coats. Hermione wrapped her Gryffindor scarf around her neck before setting off to the lottery.