New Beginnings
September, 1785
Hermione Jean Granger was just short of turning five, when her magic presented.
In a time where magical births were low, and magical children valued above all else, this meant she would be taken away from her parents, as they were non-magic welders.
She would be placed with a family of magic-welders, who would guide her in the ways of magic, as her own family would never be able to do so.
The Grangers knew what misery was to come, and less than a week later chose to be obliviated rather than bear the loss of their only child.
Hermione didn’t understand why some man from the so called ‘Ministry of Magic’ was taking her to a new home.
She had perfectly fine parents, she thought. They should be able to learn magic with her, shouldn’t they?
............
The man from the Ministry of Magic, Mr. Riddle, only stayed with her for a few moments after their arrival at Potter Manor, introducing her to her new family quickly before excusing himself.
While confused and upset, Hermione appeared as calm and collected as a small child taken from her birth parents could be.
She was led through the Potter's regal home, to the largest library she had ever laid eyes on.
It didn’t take long for her to decide that she didn’t mind her new family after that.
The woman, Euphemia reminded her of her own mother in some ways. It provided Hermione with some comfort. She had dark curls, pinned perfectly in place and was about the same height as her mother. However, she wore expensive silk and jewelry like the child had never seen before.
Hermione decided that the witch was much more poised than anyone she had ever met in her five years of life.
The husband introduced himself as Fleamont, a man with what appeared to be practically untamable hair. He was kind and had a nervous, but lighthearted laugh, and eyes a startling shade of green. His nerves were obvious as he played with his pocket watch.
After a few moments of standing about, Euphemia slowly reached out for the small witches hand, taking it in her own as she knelt down to speak.
“Hermione, there’s one more person we’d like you to meet later on. Your new brother, James. He’s been excitedly waiting to meet you since we told him to expect a new little sister.”
With wide eyes, Hermione looked back and forth between her adoptive parents.
Before she had been an only child. She knew a lot of things at the age of five, but how to have a brother was not one of them.
The bushy haired witch would have to learn, she supposed.
Looking up at Euphemia, she nodded slowly in understanding. The next words she spoke were quieter than any she had spoken before.
“Can I meet him soon?”
A look of adoration and pride passed over the face of the Potters.
“Of course, little lioness. You can meet him as soon as you’d like. We just have a few things to take care of as your parents first, yes?”
Hermione nodded bit more courageously than the last time, blushing at the nickname that Fleamont was quick to give her.
“We’d like for you to be our family in all ways, and want you to understand what that means. If you’ll agree, you’d take the Potter name, and we would do a small but of magic to make you a Potter in blood as well.”
This led the small witch to frown.
For one thing, while she knew she was a witch, she knew very little of magic. How was she to do any magic yet?
Then there was the matter of her old family, the Grangers. They had chosen to forget her, she knew that much. But she could not bring herself to forget them.
Before she had a chance to speak, Euphemia offered her suggestion, giving the girl an understanding look.
“You could be Hermione Jean Granger-Potter, if you’d like to honor them.”
She smiled brightly, nodding in agreement. It was a perfectly acceptable name to her, even if it might be a bit long.
............
Hermione’s new parents spent time with her, learning about the young witch as she snacked on fresh raspberry scones.
The Potter’s youngest house elf Tilly, had been the most excited to hear of the new young Miss. For hours, she had been hard at work baking in preparation of the child’s arrival.
The first time Tilly had apparated into the library, to replace the plate of scones, Hermione nearly fell over in shock. The small elf was so upset that she had scared the girl, that she immediately burst into tears.
Confused, but ever so curious and courageous, Hermione approached Tilly with outstretched arms, enveloping the tiny elf in a hug to calm her.
The tears resided, and Tilly looked up at the small girl, still sniffling after releasing her from the hug.
“Tilly is sorry, she is young miss. Tilly only wanted to bring more scones and meet you.”
“It’s quite alright Tilly” Euphemia spoke “Hermione simply isn’t used to magic or house elves yet. Perhaps you can help her learn some? She will be in need of a personal elf to aid her.”
This made Tilly burst into tears again. Hermione wasn’t sure that she understood the house elf, but decided she would like to be her friend. Maybe that would make her stop crying so much.
Eventually, Tilly calmed down and apparated away.
Shortly after that, the Potters told Hermione that she would meet her brother in the morning, rather than tonight like they had planned.
Tilly’s upset had delayed the night a bit, and James' elf, Mipsy, had alerted the rest of the family when he had fallen asleep moments later.
............
There was one final task to be completed before the newfound family could turn in for the night.
“The ritual to take place,” Fleamont explained “requires a small amount of blood from each of us. There is nothing more that you must do, aside from stand with us and hold our hands. Effie and I will perform the magic. Do you understand, little lioness?”
She nodded slowly.
“In making you a blood member of House of Potter, you will take on some of our features. It is the way of the magic. You do happen to bear resemblance to my dearest wife, so I do not expect any extreme change”
Euphemia smiled proudly at her husband’s words. To her, it was almost as if Hermione was always meant to be theirs.
When it was clear that their daughter understood, the couple led her out of the library, and to a private chamber in the basement.
There, they gathered around a silver cauldron in the center of the room.
Hermione found herself grasping her adoptive mother’s hand tightly, watching as her new father delicately cut his own had, several drops of blood flowing forth as he held it over the cauldron.
Handing the knife over to his wife, Euphemia withdrew her hand from Hermione’s, accepting the sharp tool it as if it were a gift.
After repeating the same motions as her husband, she knelt and turned to the small witch beside her, motioning for her to hold out a small hand.
Already fully trusting the older woman, Hermione held out her hand and watched as a small cut was made on her palm.
She was led to the cauldron to offer her own blood, and stepped back.
The couple each grasped one of the child’s hands still circled around the cauldron, and began to speak. Hermione’s eyes fluttered shut, hoping to feel the magic flow through her. She wanted nothing more than to understand the magic.
Diathan ar dachaigh, diathan ar teinn,
an-diugh tha sinn a 'toirt thugaibh cuideigin ùr.
Tha i na ball den teaghlach againn,
agus seo an dachaigh ùr aice.
Tha sinn ag iarraidh ort fàilte a chuir oirre,
tha sinn ag iarraidh ort gaol a thoirt dhi,
tha sinn ag iarraidh ort a dìon,
tha sinn ag iarraidh ort a beannachadh.*
As the incantation ceased, Hermione slowly opened her eyes, gasping as she took note of the silver thread linking her to her new parents.
If she looked closely enough, she could see a thread that lead outside of the chamber they were in. She understood that link must be to her brother James.
The thread gradually disappeared, but Hermione could feel her parents through her new familial bond. She wondered what it felt like for them now, having added a new member to their family.
Releasing their hands from hers, Hermione’s parents looked at her in awe. Fleamont adjusted his glasses, smiling widely at his wife before turning to his daughter.
“Welcome to the family, Hermione Jean Granger-Potter.”