Solo, Duo, Trio
In the years that followed, Hermione found herself flourishing under the guidance of her new family.
Her father doted on her, and her mother taught her how to be a proper lady, as she attended private lessons in magic with her brother and his friends - Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and Remus Lupin.
Hermione wasn’t quite sure why the group of boys took private lessons at her family home, but knew better than to question her parents decision regarding the education of James and his friends.
Besides, she enjoyed the company of them too much to care, even if they were constantly saying foul things around her.
The boys were always kind to her, frequently inviting her to spend time with themselves and her brother outdoors.
On the occasions that she would spend with the boys, she found herself being scolded by her mother for ‘acting like a ruffian’.
Typically, the young witch had other things in mind, and outside of her coursework, opted to read as much as her brain could absorb.
She primarily focused on academic texts, but every now and then an insistent Tilly would remind her that to be a young miss, meant to study more than just academics.
Young women were to balance intellect and beauty, after all.
On occasion, Remus would join her in the library, as he did not have access to such a wealth of knowledge at home.
She enjoyed his company the most out of her brother’s friends, as he seemed almost as intellectually motivated as she.
……….
September, 1791
It wasn’t until she was eleven years old that Hermione had her first true friend - one that wasn’t her brother or his foul mouthed friends.
Lily was one of the brightest people she had met, with a fiery personality that matched her auburn hair.
Like Hermione, she had been born to non-magic welding parents.
The Evans family had taken poorly to Lily’s magic presenting at the age of seven - her own sister Petunia had called her a freak, and immediately began counting down the days until the Ministry of Magic ‘removed’ her.
Lily had shared with Hermione that the obliviation of her family was deemed necessary by the Ministry, as the Evans’ were a threat to the young witches safety.
She was placed with a kind family, members of the House of Greengrass.
The Lord and Lady Greengrass had been quick to take in the redhead, always having wanted a daughter of their own.
Women born in the Greengrass line were often prone to a blood curse, and after having a son the couple did not want to risk bringing a daughter into the world, only for her to suffer.
They had completed the same adoption ritual as Hermione had with her parents, as the magic that bound an adopted child to his or her family would not allow blood curses to be passed along.
At the end of it, the former Lily Jade Evans stood before her adoptive parents as Lily Jade Greengrass.
Her freckles had faded into skin that resembled porcelain, and her eyes had become a shade lighter of green. But her hair had remained the same shade of auburn.
They had almost instantly found solace in one another, the shared trauma of familial loss being one that so few others in their world could understand.
Hermione hoped that one day, magical children born to non magical parents would have more options than her and Lily had.
……….
Along with Lily, came Severus Snape, Heir to the House of Prince.
Severus was to Lily, as James was to Hermione. A brother.
Although Lily had a brother of her own, Heir Sebastian Greengrass, he was several years her senior and it was difficult for them to find common ground and build a relationship.
When Lily was brought to her new family home, Severus had been living on the property nearest the Estate. He sought her out almost immediately, as he had been eager to make a new friend after several years of living with his grandparents.
Their friendship was quick to form, and as the two spent more time together, they were quick to liken themselves to siblings.
As members of prominent houses, Hermione and Lily received in depth lessons regarding art, music, and propriety, alongside their magical education.
As such, when they grew into their teen years, Lily knew if was to spend time with Severus, she must have Hermione with them.
Regardless of what they knew their relationship to be, having the pair of them alone after the age of thirteen was seen as improper.
So Hermione would often forfeit her time in her family library, spending time with the duo outdoors.
The duo and Hermione, eventually grew into a trio of dedicated friends.
……….
May, 1794
On one occasion after his fourteenth birthday, James had escorted Hermione to the Greengrass Estate, in his father’s place.
This was the first time that he truly saw Lily.
As the siblings stepped through the fireplace into the receiving room, Hermione watched as her brother went slack-jaw and wide-eyed.
He simply stared, as Lily made her way down the stairs in her green silk day dress.
Hermione wasn’t sure if he was even breathing.
“Close your mouth Jamie, or you’ll catch flies like that.”
He had huffed in protest before closing his mouth.
Lily curtsied in his presence, greeting him.
“Good afternoon, Heir Potter.”
His mouth fell open once more, stuttering his greeting.
“Good afternoon, Lil-Miss Greengrass.”
When Severus arrived moments later, James had made such a fuss about leaving, that Hermione had threatened to call for Mipsy to take him away.
When he then started to ramble to Lily about her beauty, and how pleased he was to finally meet his sister’s best friend, Hermione threatened instead, to Floo call their mother.
She watched as Lily stifled her laughter.
James left then, a furious blush on his face, and a new sense of determination in his heart to win over the auburn haired witch.
……….
The trio retreated to the gardens, and went on with their day as planned, only occasionally cracking a joke about poor James.
“You would think the bloke would’ve seen you at least once before, yeah?” Severus inquired. “I mean, the three of us are always together at Potter Manor”
“Jamie is always out with his friends pranking and dueling one another” Hermione said, tucking her wand into her pinned up curls. “Plus, he’s had no interest in girls until recently.”
It was a habit that her mother insisted she break, but without pockets, there were hardly any place for a lady to keep her wand when her hands were otherwise occupied. So in her hair, Hermione’s wand would continue to go.
“It was quite nice, being spoken about that way.”
Lily looked thoughtful as she spoke.
“Even if though was a tad awkward, and his words were ineloquent at best.”
Hermione let an obnoxious laugh fall from her lips, recalling her brother refer to the redhead as ‘Sweet Lilypad’ in the moments before his departure.
Severus shook his head, looking between the two girls sat across from him.
“One day someone will say much more eloquent words to you. Both of you. There aren’t very many more years until you make your debut into society, after all.”
Lily scrunched her nose up at the mention of their upcoming debuts into society.
Being a full year older than Hermione meant that they would not be able enter society at the same time.
Unless circumstances changed, her season would take place in just under three years time, while Hermione’s would take place in just under four.
Eventually, there was only silence between them. The shift in the atmosphere was clear and after a bit, the trio headed inside quietly.
Silent goodbyes were exchanged, before two thirds of the group left the Greengrass Estate.
With that, Lily was left to her own thoughts, devoted to making the most of the time before her debut.