FINALLY UPDATED THIS! FUCKING MIRACLE I TELL YOU
Hermione had taken the night to mull over the thought of practicing Occlumency with her grandfather.
Why was he teaching her Occlumency this summer? Why was she the only one learning it? Had she given herself away in the such little time she'd spent there? Had her father discovered her secret and told her grandfather to confirm? Was that why she was learning away from everyone else? No, in the short few days she had spent with her grandfather, there's no way he'd have known, not unless he already had a suspicion.
The thought of her grandfather going through her memory was a scary one. She wasn't sure what part would be the worst part to see; her childhood as a Muggleborn, the war that she'd been almost forced to fight, or the simple fact that she wasn't really a Malfoy at heart.
As much as she felt she could trust her grandfather, there was still these little factors that came in, owing to her slight hesitation. What if this kind face was a façade and she was the one being caught, what if he'd been asked to investigate and what would happen if he saw the things she knew?
Though something did stick out to her like a sore thumb.
He asked for her explicit permission to look into her mind. A skilled Legilimens could enter one's mind and exit with the knowledge they wanted without the victim ever even knowing they were there. If he had wanted to know something, he'd have done it without ever mentioning.
She slowly let herself drift to sleep until the sun came back up and she dreamt of the past and what her grandfather might do if he found out.
That afternoon, Hermione found her grandfather sitting in his comfy chair in the library, his reading glasses sitting gently on his nose while he held a thick tome in his lap.
"Something seems to be on your mind." He claimed, his head not even lifting to look at her. He marked his page and placed the now closed tome on the side table to look up at his grand-daughter. "this is about my request last night, isn't it." He observed Hermione's eyes widen slightly as she began to mumble to herself. "I understand it was quite an invasive question. I apologise if it has made you uncomfortable, my dear."
"May I ask a question?" Hermione took a seat across from the elder and smoothened the long skirt out of sheer habit.
"You may ask me anything, my dear." He smiled and folded his hands in a proper manner and spoke in a kind tone. "You should not feel as if you cannot ask me something; you are family." He noticed her shoulders relax and her eyes remain closed for a few moments, along with the deep, silent breath that followed the bouncing on the leg off the floor. 'I need to ask about problems later...' He tucked the thought into his other mental reminders and waited until his grand-daughter spoke.
It came as barely a whisper, but he heard the question. "Why do you want to teach me Occlumency?" she asked, daring not to look him in the eye, it seemed.
"As expected," He started with a small sigh. "this is an understandable question and I shall give you an answer." He took a sip from the small mug on the table and set it back down. "As you already know, you are privileged to knowing secrets the rest of the society could never even dream of knowing or imagining. And there are reasons these secrets stay as such."
"Teach it early." She said quietly. He nodded.
"Yes. One of the large inconveniences of teaching this uncommon art is that one must prod into the student's mind, privacy and one may learn things they wish they hadn't." He explained into detail, more than the night before. Hermione took in all the information he would give her about how he disliked teaching the art but he had to teach her father and she soon learned that Lucius had no gift for it whatsoever, worrying her a bit. "We do not need to begin learning it now, but I do hope you will allow me to aid you." He finished. "I will let you continue to think about the offer."
As if the conversation had never taken place, her grandfather smiled and asked what she wanted for breakfast so he could have the Elves prepare it.
A knock on the front door brought Hermione to the front door running, despite being in a uncomfortably trippable-length skirt.
She hadn't realised they were expecting a visitor but she was glad either way. It meant she could see someone else other than her grandfather or the house-elfs—not that either one was bad, it's just that she needed to see more people.
"Dear, slow down, I don't move that fast." She heard her grandfather laugh from the other hall. Maybe she shouldn't have left so quickly...
"My apologies!" She shouted back before slowing down near the door and regaining her breath. She opened the large white door and raised a brow at the woman and man standing across from her.
The girl, probably around the age of 16, Hermione presumed, looked damn close to her own appearance. The pale skin, hair nearly as pale as snow, the crystal grey eyes, it was as if she was looking at another female member of her family.
"Cousin!" The girl had almost jumped into her arms and hugged her tightly, the gentle blond waves moving all together. "I haven't seen you in forever!"
Hermione remained confused for a few moments before her mind sent her an image of them together when they were younger, running around the field where Hermione's mother and another woman was watching them.
"Aldrich, so nice to see you again." Hermione looked to the side and saw her grandfather arrive. "Thank you for bringing Pandora with you." He turned to look at Hermione. "Don't you just leave me behind like that, young lady." Despite his words being a light scold, it felt more of a light hearted reprimand.
"It's my honour Uncle. We have not seen each other in years, perhaps this can become a regular occurrence?" Aldrich smiled as he finished his light hearted request.
"I do enjoy the thought of this idea, yes let's, now please, do come in."
It hadn't taken long for Hermione to begin wracking her brain for information on this Pandora and Aldrich. They were obviously relatives, Pandora referred to her as cousin and Aldrich referred to her grandfather as uncle.
Though all her brain gave her was Childhood Abraxan rides with her cousin when she was younger, and talks of France. Seeing as her cousin was yet to be an adult, she easily assumed that this Pandora was either attending Beauxbatons in France or was tutored at home.
"Oh the mountains were beautiful! Hermione, did I tell you about the unicorns our headmaster keeps in the grounds? We study them in one of our nature classes." Pandora barely allowed for any room for answers. "I just love the creatures we use but I will always find a home here! Everyone has their posh French accents and I can barely understand some!"
"Pandora, darling, perhaps you would like to drink your tea? Before it gets cold?"
"Oh, of course! Thank you, father!" Pandora finally turned her attention to her cup and drank quietly as if she hadn't just spent the last five minutes talking without taking a single breath. Hermione wondered briefly where Pandora kept all that air...
Though Hermione wondered off into her thoughts, she barely caught the situation turn. "How is Pandora's engagement proceeding? Without problems?" Her grandfather asked, snapping his fingers to make the tea pot tip and pour himself and his nephew a cup.
"It's going well. We've received a positive answer from her fiance's side and we need only await until they are both of age." Seeing her grandfather nod, Hermione noted how happy Pandora seemed.
"Has plans been made for Dear Hermione's future engagement as of yet?" Aldrich smiled to the younger member and looked back to her grandfather.
"Times are changing and I will see what I can do to have it be her choice." Hermione was taken aback at the show of thoughtfulness from her grandfather's side. "These generations are keeping an eye for love rather than convenience. If she wishes for an arrangement, she shall bring it up for herself."
"Hermione is so young! She needn't worry about that just yet!" Pandora pipped up after finishing her cup. "Cousin should bloom before thinking of such trivial matters!"
Hermione decided she liked this cousin of hers, despite the initial weariness.
I recently broke my arm in a snowboarding competition and I will be unable to write for a while (it was my dominant) and the writing will be so much slower so do not expect a another update for a few weeks.
Though i will be brainstorming with my friend so all comments are greatly appreciated and I will attempt to reply to them as well!
Have a great evening and toodles!