Chapter 4
After this flood of memories, Hermione set about preparing for her daughter's wedding. She couldn't believe that Sophie was already an adult, ready to leave the nest.
She still remembered her first steps, her childish laughter, her incessant questions about the world... And now, it was about to take off.
Hermione had always wanted to protect Sophie from the outside world, but she had to face the facts: this battle had been lost for years. She knew exactly when everything had changed.
Sophie had just celebrated her eleventh birthday when three owls appeared above the farm.
Hermione, who had gone to the market, did not have time to intercept them. When she returned, she found her daughter on the porch with a letter in her hands, her eyes filled with surprise.
His whole plan to protect Sophie from the magical world had just collapsed.
She knew that she now had to face her daughter and have the conversation she dreaded so much.
"Mamma, look!" I received mail, but I don't understand... Sophie raised the letter in front of her, frowning. It must be a joke from Nikos. He's always telling stories.
She laughed slightly before adding:
"That says I was accepted into a magical school..." Lies.
Hermione, with a heavy heart, opened the other two letters she had just retrieved. One came from Hogwarts, the other from the Academy of Magic in Athens.
She closed her eyes briefly and massaged her temples. The time had come.
"My love, come with me into the drawing-room." I need to talk to you.
Sophie immediately sensed the seriousness in her mother's voice.
"Mom, are you okay?" You don't look good... She jumped to her feet. If Nikos' joke upset you, I'll go down to the village right away and tell him to stop.
Hermione shook her head gently.
"Sophie... it's not a joke of Nikos.
She sat on the couch, patting the place next to her for her daughter to join her.
"These three schools really exist.
Sophie's eyes widened.
"What?"
"I myself went to Hogwarts years ago.
A silence set in. Hermione took a deep breath before adding:
"I know you might be mad at me, but I did what I thought was best for you."
She paused, searching for the right words.
"I am a witch, my love." and so do you.
Sophie laughed incredulously.
"But mamma—" I don't have magic.
Hermione delicately took her daughter's hand in hers and pointed to the necklace that Sophie always wore around her neck.
— Yes, you in ace.
Sophie instinctively looked down at the pendant.
"Grandma Sofia's gift?" she asked, confused.
"Yes," murmured Hermione. It's a magic blocker.
Sophie's breath was taken away.
"What?"
"When you were little, your magic manifested itself very early... And I panicked.
Hermione ran a hand through her hair, visibly nervous.
"I wanted to give you a normal world, like the one I had before I was eleven.
She smiled sadly.
"I knew nothing about magic until I received my own letter... And a strange English witch came to explain all this unknown world to my parents.
Sophie shook her head slowly, stunned.
"But why?" Why did you hide this from me?
She sat up, her eyes shining with emotion.
"Magic is great, Mom! Why didn't you want me to have some?
Hermione looked down, hesitantly.
"Because... Magic can be beautiful, she finally admitted. But it can also be... Dangerous.
She looked up, this time filled with pain that Sophie had never seen in her home before.
"You are too young for me to tell you everything." But I saw what magic could do when used as a weapon.
A heavy silence fell in the room.
Sophie instinctively clutched her necklace in her hand. She had never thought that a simple piece of jewelry could hide such a secret.
Hermione slowly got up and walked to the living room library. Her heart was pounding as she pulled out an old book with pages yellowed by time. With a precise gesture, she opened the hard cover, revealing a secret hiding place dug into the thickness of the paper.
Inside, neatly arranged, were old photographs.
She took one out and handed it to Sophie, her hand trembling slightly.
"Look, my heart... she murmured. They are your grandparents.
Sophie delicately took the photo between her fingers and observed it carefully. The image, although slightly faded, showed a smiling couple, their eyes shining with sweetness.
"They look so young..." she whispered admiringly, then she looked up at Hermione, noticing a striking resemblance.
"Mamma... You look like Grandma.
Hermione smiled sadly.
"Yes... That's what many said.
She brushed her fingertips against the photo before taking a deep breath.
"One day... They were kidnapped and murdered in front of my eyes.
Sophie felt an icy shiver run down her spine. His hands clenched on the edge of the image.
"What?! she exclaimed, her voice trembling. What for?!
She sought her mother's gaze, hoping for an explanation that would lessen the horror of this revelation.
Hermione hesitated for a moment before answering, her throat tightening.
"You're still too young to understand all the details..."
"Mamma, I'm eleven years old, not five!" Sophie interrupted, her tone sharper than she would have liked.
Hermione stared at her for a moment, then lowered her head.
"When I was your age, a group of fanatical wizards spread terror. They believed in a superiority of blood, in a society where only pure bloodline sorcerers should exist.
Sophie opened her mouth, stunned.
"But it's nonsense!
"Yes... Hermione sighed. And yet, they have wreaked havoc. They hunted down, tortured and killed anyone who did not fit their worldview. Muggles, wizards born of Muggle parents... Like me.
A heavy silence settled.
"And your parents—" whispered Sophie.
Hermione nodded softly.
"They were among the victims. I was there... and I couldn't do anything.
Sophie felt tears welling up in her eyes.
"Mamma... she whispered, instinctively placing a hand on his.
Hermione closed her eyes briefly, taking a deep breath before continuing.
"When I left England, their leader had fallen. But others were already continuing his work. That's why I came here...
She looked up at her daughter.
"Because I wanted a normal life." A life where I could start from scratch without being afraid, without wondering if the shadow of the past would come knocking on my door.
Sophie swallowed with difficulty.
"It must have been so hard..."
She stroked the frayed edge of the photograph with her thumb, a knot forming in her belly.
Then, after a moment's reflection, she took a deep breath.
"Listen, mamma..." she said gently. If you really want me to stay here, I will.
Hermione felt her heart sink.
"But—" Sophie added, with a timid smile, "if you please. Teach me at least a little magic.
Hermione's eyes widened slightly, surprised.
"Sophie... she murmured, shaking her head. It's been twelve years since I cast a spell.
Sophie arched an eyebrow, visibly stunned.
"Twelve years?!"
Hermione smiled bitterly.
"The island reacts badly to magic..." she explained. And I don't even have a baguette anymore.
Sophie crossed her arms, thinking.
"But you still know the theory, don't you?"
Hermione let out a slight laugh.
"Of course.
A silence settled before she continued:
"I must still have some old books in the attic." I can lend them to you if you want to learn for yourself.
Sophie did not need to be asked. She threw herself into her mother's arms, holding her tightly against her.
— Merci, maman!
Hermione closed her eyes for a moment, savoring this comforting embrace.
Then, Sophie stepped back slightly and looked into her mother's.
"And mamma—" she added in a soft voice, "I love you." I will stay away from the sorcerers... For now.
Hermione felt a wave of emotion wash over her.
She tenderly caressed her daughter's cheek, a tear threatening to flow.
"I love you too, my heart.
She knew that this promise would not last forever.
But, for now, that was enough.
**********************************************
Of course, the promise didn't last long.
For years, Sophie had taken correspondence courses, like most children on the island. But when she reached high school age, something changed.
The memory of the magical world resurfaced, more vivid than ever.
She had grown up with that insatiable curiosity, that same fire that once burned in her mother's eyes. Hermione should have seen it coming. After weeks of arguments, passionate discussions and almost daily insistence, Sophie managed to convince her: they would visit the magical district of Athens.
Hermione knew it would happen one day. She would have liked to postpone the inevitable a little longer, but faced with her daughter's determination, she had to give in.
Sophie was as clever as her mother.
As soon as she discovered that she was a witch, she devoured dozens of books about the magical places of Europe, studying their customs, history, and secrets with almost obsessive avidity.
But one question remained... How had she found these books?
The answer was obvious: Sofia.
The old woman, a long-time accomplice, knew exactly what to order during the weekly deliveries of the shuttle from the island to the mainland. With a mischievous smile and a wink, she discreetly slipped books into the crates, making sure Sophie had everything she wanted.
Hermione, who was preparing the tables for the reception, couldn't help but laugh when she thought back to her daughter's first encounter with wizards.
That day, her eyes had been as big as saucers, amazed and overwhelmed at the same time.
**************************************************
Sophie walked with a determined step, guiding her mother through the busy alleys leading to the magical district of Athens.
She knew the place by heart from the meticulous descriptions in her books, and excitement swept through her with every step.
The neighborhood was hidden under the Parthenon, hidden from Muggle eyes by ancient Greek enchantments.
"According to my book, you can access it through a bar, a bit like Diagon Alley in England," Sophie explained. It is called "Le Repos de Cerbère".
Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"Charming... she murmured with a slight sarcasm.
Standing in front of the bar's stone façade, Sophie couldn't suppress a shiver of excitement. It was finally real.
But Hermione was on alert. She knew that the magical world never completely forgot its heroes and ghosts. Since the beginning of this visit, a dull fear had gnawed at her: to be recognized.
Sophie knew nothing about her role in the war, and Hermione wanted to keep it that way.
But when she crossed the threshold of the bar, she quickly realized that her anonymity was intact. After fifteen years of living in hiding, her face no longer awakened any memory.
Hermione and Sophie entered a hushed atmosphere, very different from the noisy bars found among Muggles. The subdued light, diffused by floating lanterns, bathed the place in a soft amber glow. On the walls, moving frescoes told ancient legends, representing Greek sorcerers conversing with mythological creatures. The Greeks did not seem to be very familiar with the English war. Here, Voldemort and the Battle of Hogwarts were just distant rumors, stories that had not marked local history as they had shaped his own.
Sophie was stamping her feet with impatience.
"Mom, it's incredible! she exclaimed in a low voice, her eyes shining.
Hermione, more measured, observed the place cautiously, making sure that no one was paying attention. Behind the counter, a bartender with an imposing build was cleaning a glass with a wave of his wand while chatting with an old witch in a midnight blue toga.
Sophie immediately spotted what she was looking for: a stone arch adorned with ancient symbols at the back of the room.
"It's there!" she said, pointing to the entrance to the Magic District of Athens.
Hermione took a breath before following her daughter. After so many years away from the magical world, returning to a witch city troubled her more than she cared to admit.
As she passed under the arch, a wave of familiar magic ran through her, as if she were passing through an invisible veil.
And suddenly they were there: The Agora Mystíka
A wide paved boulevard opened up before them, lined with buildings with marble columns and facades adorned with bewitched mosaics. In contrast to the picturesque and medieval architecture of Diagon Alley, here, everything seemed to be bathed in ancient elegance, between tradition and modernity.
Signs in ancient Greek and runes twinkled above the shops. A haunting smell of warm bread and honey wafted through the air, mingled with the scents of the spices being sold on the stalls.
Wizards and witches in colorful togas strolled the streets, some chatting animatedly, others bartering potions, magic plants, or scrolls with intricate illuminations.
Sophie stopped short, amazed.
"Mamma... It's... magnificent!
Hermione, troubled, nodded softly.
"Yes... she murmured, absorbed in the beauty of the place.
Sophie waited no longer and rushed down the main street, stars in her eyes.
"Look over there!" It's a bookstore! And here, they sell potions!
Hermione followed her, flashing a tender smile.
"Slowly, Sophie..."
But it was a wasted effort. The girl was too fascinated to slow down.
They stopped in front of a wand shop, whose golden sign read "Hephaestus & Sons – Wand Makers since 1356".
Through the window, Sophie observed the chopsticks carefully displayed on velvet cushions.
"Do you think I could try one?" she asked excitedly.
Hermione hésita.
"You still have your necklace..."
Sophie looked down at the blue pendant that rested against her neck.
"I can take it off..." just to see?
Hermione felt a rush of anguish rise in her.
"Sophie, I—" She stopped when she saw her daughter's pleading look.
This tour was not only about discovering the magical world. It was a test. A test to see if she could really belong to this universe that her mother had hidden from her.
Hermione sighed and put a hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"Okay. But if you feel the slightest discomfort, you put it back on immediately.
Sophie nodded excitedly, slowly unfastened the necklace and put it back in her pocket.
The change was instantaneous.
A shiver ran through Sophie's skin, as if a wave of energy was suddenly enveloping her. Her hair seemed to glow in the golden light of the sun.
Then Hermione felt the eyes change around them.
Some young wizards, fresh out of a nearby shop, stopped dead in their tracks when they ran into Sophie. Their eyes widened, fascinated.
A boy stumbled on a cobblestone, nearly falling backwards. His friend, who had been laughing a few moments earlier, stopped short, his gaze fixed on the young girl as if she were a divine apparition.
"Uh... mom? Sophie whispered, uncomfortable to see several boys staring at her with a blissful look.
Hermione cursed inwardly.
"Shit.
She should have thought about it.
Her daughter was not just a witch: she was the heiress of a powerful magical blood, combining that of a brilliant witch and...
Sophie had never shown this gift because of the necklace. But now, without a filter, her magical charm was uncontrollably activated.
Another young man, carrying a stack of books, froze looking at it before dropping all its cargo on the ground.
"Damn it, mamma... they look at me as if I were Aphrodite in person! Sophie hissed, panicked.
Hermione immediately grabbed the necklace from her daughter's pocket and tied it around her neck.
The effect was immediate.
The boys blinked as if they were emerging from a strange dream. One of them, with a crimson complexion, muttered something incomprehensible before walking away with a hurried step.
Sophie breathed a huge sigh of relief.
"Okay, that was weird.
Hermione folded her arms, looking stern.
"Do you understand now why I didn't want you to take off that necklace lightly?"
Sophie, still in shock, nodded.
"I'm a magic time bomb..." she murmured, looking at his hands.
"No," Hermione corrected, putting a hand on his shoulder. You are a young witch with a powerful heritage. It's better not to provoke the devil for now.
Sophie took a deep breath, regaining her usual confidence.
"So... What do we start with?
Hermione looked at her, an amused smile on her lips.
"First of all, we avoid attracting an army of suitors to the magic district.
Sophie burst out laughing.
"Okay, I'll take note!"
After the necklace incident, Hermione and Sophie decided to continue their exploration of the Magic District, this time with more caution.
They walked the cobbled streets of the Agora Mystíka, admiring the golden signs glittering in the afternoon sun. The hustle and bustle was joyful, and although magic was everywhere, the neighborhood exuded a serene atmosphere, far from the hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley.
Hermione was on her guard, but Sophie was over the moon.
"Mamma, look!" she exclaimed, pointing to a display case filled with brightly colored potions. They look like vials of liquid light!
Hermione smiles as she sees her daughter marvel at each new discovery. She was so much like him.
In a small shop nestled between a parchment seller and an enchanted feather stand, Hermione came across a shop specializing in the uniforms of witchcraft schools from around the world.
A wooden display displayed scarves in various colors, elegant capes and embroidered coats of arms.
A nostalgic smile brushed against her lips as she recognized the red and gold Gryffindor scarf. Without hesitation, she took one.
His eye was then drawn to a powder blue cape, adorned with discreet and elegant patterns.
"It would suit Sophie perfectly..." she murmured to herself.
After a brief exchange with the saleswoman. Hermione joined her daughter, who, not surprisingly, had found a bookstore.
Sophie's arms were full of books.
Ancient grimoires with elaborate bindings, textbooks on the history of Greek magic, books on metamorphosis and even a collection of magical tales that she leafed through with a amazed smile.
"You are really my daughter..." Hermione sighed, crossing her arms, amused.
Sophie looked up and laughed.
"You didn't think I was going to leave empty-handed?"
Hermione shook her head, amused, before accompanying him to the checkout.
It was there that Sophie had another surprise.
In front of her, the bookseller, a sturdy, stern-looking woman, announced the total amount in magic drachmas.
Sophie frowned at the gold and silver coins that her mother took out of her leather purse.
"What's that?" she asked, grabbing a coin, intrigued.
"Witch money," Hermione explained with a smile. Didn't you think they were using euros here?
Sophie turned the room between her fingers, fascinated.
"I suppose not... But how did you get all that?
Hermione slipped the coins into the bookseller's hand and shrugged her shoulders.
"I have planned everything."
Sophie narrowed her eyes, skeptical.
"Mamma... You had everything planned, right? Even before I ask you to come here.
Hermione let out a chuckle.
"Let's just say that I knew that one day, you would want to discover this world.
Sophie smiled broadly.
"You're evil... but I adore you.
Once the shopping was over, mother and daughter came out laden with packages.
"I have the impression that the Agora Mystíka has been looted..." Sophie joked, wedging a huge grimoire under her arm.
"You haven't seen anything yet," replied Hermione, with a wink.
They continued their walk, enjoying this day they would never have imagined living together.
That day was the one and only time Hermione left the island.
After their visit to the Agora Mystíka, after the discovery of the magical world in a new light, after the thrill of a reality she had put off for too long, Hermione knew that she would not make this trip again.
She had never felt at home there. This world, which had once fascinated her, had also taken everything from her. She never wanted to relive those shadows of the past.
Sophie understood this. Even though she had been fascinated by everything she had seen, even if a part of her was burning with curiosity, she respected her mother's decision.
She continued her studies away from magic, choosing a Muggle path, in a universe where witchcraft would always be a distant memory.
But sometimes, on the long summer evenings when the warm breeze caressed her face, Sophie would find herself brushing against her necklace, as if she could still feel the wave of power that had washed over her that day, when she had taken it off, even briefly.
A simple jewel, yet the bearer of so many secrets. She never spoke of it, out of respect for her mother. But, deep down, she knew.
The magical world had not disappeared. He was there, somewhere, just behind the veil of normality that she had imposed on herself. And one day, perhaps, this world would come knocking at his door again. But not today. Today, she was Sophie Papadakis, Hermione's daughter, a child of a Greek island, living a simple and happy life. And that was enough. For now.