Chapter 6
Severus Snape left Malfoy Manor late that night, once Draco Malfoy had gone back to bed, recovering from his own mind manipulations.
He apparated to Hogsmeade and walked down to the castle, enjoying the peace and quiet to decompress from the whirlwind of the day. He finally made it inside and went to his own chambers before simply collapsing on his bed and promptly falling asleep still dressed. While his bedchambers were down the dungeons and thought to be cold and damp by most students, and even staff, he had added permanent warming charms years ago.
He woke up a few hours later, his internal clock not letting him sleep past 7 am. He hopped into the shower and wore the same back robes he always did at Hogwarts before leaving his room and walking towards the Headmaster's office, a scowl etched onto his face and his long robes billowing behind him.
He had been able to avoid talking with the Headmaster after informing him Hermione Granger had been moved to Saint Mungo's. He was thankful Potter and Weasley were unlikely to come bother him, should they care about her fate and now both boys had left for the summer, even though he was likely to cross path with both at the Order's Headquarter anyway.
Severus gave the sweet related password to the Gargoyle with a small eyeroll, the security in this school was often laughable, which used to rise his blood pressure and now felt like an opportunity to exploit instead as he had a whole list of vulnerabilities for the Dark Lord should he want access to the school. He made his way up the stairs and knocked twice on the wooden door.
"Come in." Albus Dumbledore called from his place behind the desk.
Severus strolled inside and took a seat in front of the Headmaster in silence.
"How did your visit at Saint Mungo's go yesterday? It was disappointing you couldn't be there to see the students off on the train but I understand the health of Miss. Granger is paramount." Dumbledore asked, his tone lacking the sincerity that used to there or so Severus thought. He wondered how much knowing the truth altered his perception of the man or if he had always been disinterested in what a lot of people were calling the Brightest Witch of Her Age.
"Sadly I am here to inform you Miss. Granger passed early yesterday morning. Her injuries were too severe, the curse wasn't able to be fully lifted and her body couldn't fight it anymore." Severus explained, not bothering to pretend to be in mourning for a student he only showed contempt for before, even though Dumbledore was supposed to believe the contempt he held for students like her was an act, a facade he put on to fool the Dark Lord and Death Eaters. He did enjoy some of her essays but her attitude was mostly annoying in class and what he had thought were her taste in friends was lacking. The girl he had come to know recently was very different and much more pleasant.
Dumbledore's eyes widened in shock for a beat before he put a mask of grief on, "I see, that is very unfortunate indeed. Thank you for telling me. I shall inform her family and friends immediately."
Severus nodded once and quickly left the room, not in the mood to expand on his lie or have to answer other questions. He did note the Headmaster spoke of her family, as if she had two parents and wasn't an orphan. He wondered how big the lie was when it came to someone like Minerva McGonagall, what did he tell her to justify his own visit to a supposed muggleborn witch instead of the Deputy Headmistress and wondered what he said every time the girl was hurt enough for it to warrant a letter home as he was sure the orphanage wasn't in the know of magic and would not be receiving any owls.
He continued his musings as he walked down the numerous stairs back to the dungeons and immediately went to his private lab to work on his personal projects for the day before he left for a few weeks, he would come back late July to add the wards in the common rooms but he could enjoy some time off back home, and likely spend most of it at Malfoy Manor to aid in Lyra and Draco's recoveries.
As soon as the door closed and Severus' footsteps echoed away, Albus Dumbledore let out a heavy sigh. While he didn't care much if Hermione Granger lived or died long-term, she was instrumental in the plans he had started to make for Harry Potter. The young Weasley boy had to be potionned in order to tolerate her presence but young Harry seemed to actually like her, or at least like the magically altered personality Dumbledore had made for her.
Faking the death of the first female Malfoy born in centuries, and Malfoy heir, had been too easy at the time. A few well aimed spells here and there at Saint Mungo's and he had the girl in his arms. At that point, he simply wanted to weaken the wealthiest family supporting Tom, as well as ideally take out Lucius Malfoy from participating in Death Eater's activities due to his grief. Sadly it hadn't really worked out how he had pictured it and it seemed Lucius Malfoy took out his grief and rage to battles as well as into his determination to maintain and improve his family's place within the Ministry and Wizengamot.
During the war, the girl had been placed at Wool's mostly because it was convenient, and no one would think to look into a muggle orphanage. When his gamble didn't pay off with the Malfoys, the strategy changed and Albus Dumbledore decided to create the perfect weapon. At first he had to do nothing, as the orphanage would break her spirit all on its own.
When she came to Hogwarts, Dumbledore got his plans underway and made sure to mould her exactly how he wanted, thankfully he had some well placed help along the way, some more willing than others but his arsenal of charms and potions always led the way to compliance.
Her death was too early in the chess match, however, as he had plans to use her as a study guide and resources' well during the next few years, ideally leading Harry to destroy Tom's horcruxes and then help Harry go to his own death willingly. Without her studious and loyal presence, it wasn't certain the young Potter would be competent on his own to find and destroy the horcruxes, especially if his only companion was a boy who's ability to be loyal to his friends was abysmal even under charms and potions.
Reluctantly, the Headmaster got to his feet and to the Floo, calling for Grimmauld Place. His office was one of the very few places connected to it, but at least he didn't have to apparate on the front steps that way.
Arriving at the Black family townhouse, he quickly made his way to the kitchen where breakfast was wrapping up, "I would like everyone to gather in the drawing room for an announcement." he said neutrally and immediately made his way towards the room, waiting for everyone to follow him.
In less than 10 minutes, all inhabitants and their current guests were in the room. The entire Weasley family, minus Percy, Remus Lupin, Harry Potter, Emmeline Vance and Nymphadora Tonks as she wasn't meant to start her Auror shift until the early afternoon, leaving Kingsley Shacklebot who was currently working.
"Hello everyone." he started with a serene, but sad enough, smile, "I am sorry to inform you Hermione Granger passed away yesterday."
Immediately shouts were heard coming from the many people present, the Weasley twins especially looked stricken while the youngest male Weasley seemed to struggle to put on a grieving face on, his little sister managed better but internally was rejoicing that someone she considered a rival for the love of her life's affections was gone.
Harry Potter said nothing and refused to make eye contact with anyone, he stayed silent while looking horror struck and quickly fled the room to sequester himself in his bedroom, beyond grieving someone he loved, he was drowning in guilt of forcing her to follow him into what turned out to be a trap. Losing his gofather for the same reason was already too much for him to deal with, and the loss of Hermione was excruciating.
"What happened?" Remus Lupin managed to ask, his voice hoarse from the pain of losing someone he had come to care a great deal about and who had been his favourite student.
"The curse couldn't be completely lifted and she succumbed to her injuries in Saint Mungo's." Dumbledore explained.
Remus nodded and left the room as well, wanting to be alone as he processed the loss.
Eventually everyone left the room and for some the townhouse, like the twins, as they wanted to be away from everyone to grieve someone they had came to love as a little sister.
A couple of days later back at Malfoy Manor, the family was coming together. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy took a few hours everyday to sit with their daughter and speak about everything and anything, making sure she knew how loved she was and that no one would tear them apart again.
After a first awkward and tense encounter, the Malfoy siblings were able to move past their Hogwarts' animosity and they spent most of their days lounging together in Hermione's room as she was still on bedrest and so was her brother.
Without charms and potions to alter their behaviours or cloud their thoughts, they realised how alike they were in their interests and most of their personality traits as they spent hours chatting and reading side by side.
Now that the compulsion to learn and study as much as possible was gone, Lyra was able to simply read for her own enjoyment and learn what actually interested her. Her parents would leave books for her everyday about any topics she had mentioned. Thanks for that system and the expansive Malfoy library, Lyra was able to learn a lot more about Wizarding history, its traditions and customs as well as find a new understanding of her family and many similar families she had come into contact while at Hogwarts.
At the end of the first week of bedrest, Severus Snape came by with all the textbooks of what she would learn if she went to her 6th year based on her OWL scores.
"You took eleven OWLs, so I brought the 6th year books for all of them but I think we need to have a serious discussion on what next year will look like." He said as he came in and dropped the books on a side table.
"Indeed we do." Lucius Malfoy said as he came in.
"What do you mean?" Lyra asked.
"Based on your real birthday, you should be going into your 7th year. We need to discuss if that's something you feel able to do, as well as drop a few of the subjects you took OWLs on. While it is impressive to take as many OWLs as you did, it's best to focus on core subjects and a couple of topics you enjoy learning for your NEWTs." Lucius explained as he sat down at the foot of his daughter's bed.
"Seven subjects should really be the maximum for NEWTs." Severus added.
"That makes sense. Besides, there's few subjects I really don't care for." Lyra replied with a nod.
"Alright, which ones would you keep then?" Lucius wondered as he took a piece of parchment and an everlasting quill to jot down what she would study.
"Potions, Defence, Transfiguration and Charms are my core subjects."
"Good choices. Astronomy isn't that useful unless you want to specialise into something that needs it, Herbology can be good if you wish to become a Potions Master but not necessary even then. History of Magic is a good subject in theory, but currently being taught by a ghost with a hatred for Goblins, both the OWL and NEWT aren't recognised outside of the British Isles." Severus added.
"What electives do you want to keep?" Lucius inquired.
"Ancient runes, arithmancy and ideally Alchemy." Lyra answered.
"The first two are fine and a great idea. Sadly Alchemy is currently being taught by Dumbledore and while he wouldn't do anything against you, he would know exactly who you are." Lucius cautioned.
"I know." Lyra sighed, "It's more of an interest than anything anyway, I'll just study it on my own."
"Alright, that makes 6 NEWTs, that's reasonable." Severus said.
"How will I be able to go straight into 7th year though?"
"Well, you have the rest of the summer to study and practice the theory of your subjects. I'll tutor you for Potions and Defence, Narcissa is incredible at Transfiguration and Charms and Lucius can help you with Ancient Runes and Arithmancy." Severus explained with a small smile.
"Alright." Lyra replied before letting out a yawn.
"We'll let you get some rest and start a soft and light study schedule tomorrow." Severus said as he got up and left the room with Lucius.
Once the men were back in Lucius' study, they sat down, "How are you going to enrol her at Hogwarts?" Severus asked.
"We have the last Governors' meeting in a couple of days before the summer break, I plan to explain my daughter will enrol for her last year as she had suffered from weak health previously and was taught at home. In front of the staff and other governors, he will have no choice."
"I can't wait." Severus replied with a smirk.
Severus was sat in the staff room for the last Governors meeting of the current year as people trickled into the room. The rest of the staff slowly joined and he could see the grief in Minerva's eyes as she had recently learned of the passing of Hermione Granger. He was hoping her loyalty to Dumbledore was coerced and she could be brought onside eventually, reuniting her with her favourite student. While he was loathed to admit anything less than negative towards Remus Lupin, he was also optimistic on the chances of bringing the wolf to their side, either his condition and special treatment at Hogwarts was the motivator towards his loyalty, or he was also being magically coerced.
As the Governors arrived, the meeting got underway, it was a simple one with a recap of the year, while the presence of Dolores Umbridge during the year added to the review, nothing new was being discussed.
As the session wrapped up, Lucius Malfoy stood up and rapped his cane on the floor a couple of times to get everyone's attention, "Apologies for the lateness of my request, however my daughter is needing to enrol for her last year and I wanted to have it confirmed before the start of next year."
"Your daughter?" Albus Dumbledore asked in the ensuing silence, praying he had misheard the man.
"Yes. Lyra Malfoy, she's turning 17 in a few days. Her health was rather poor when she was younger, to the point we even thought she might die as a baby, so we chose to have her educated at home but now she's finally completely fine so she's able to come to Hogwarts."
Dumbledore's had paled significantly, but knew he couldn't refuse or call the man out in front of so many people without implicating himself so he simply smiled, "Of course. She'll need to be sorted but we can do this privately in the ante chamber of the great hall before the first years arrive."
"Perfect. She had already chosen her subjects and I have her ministry OWLs results as well." Lucius went on.
"You can give them to me, Lord Malfoy, I'll add her to the student list immediately." Minerva McGonagall said as Dumbledore seemed off kilter.
"Of course." Lucius said and handed the Deputy Headmistress a tick envelope before taking his leave with a smirk on his face as Dumbledore scrambled to understand what this meant, and mostly whether the Malfoys knew he was behind the kidnapping of their daughter.