Rewritten Destiny

The Easter holidays at Hogwarts were a unique blend of solemnity and festivity. The castle was quieter than usual, with many students having gone home. Those who remained enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, taking advantage of the break from the typical academic rigour. However, the holidays were a time for deeper contemplation and strategic planning for Hermione Granger, a first-year Slytherin with the mind of an adult and the soul of a physicist.

 

Hermione sat in the Slytherin common room, the dim green light casting eerie shadows on the stone walls. She had her Physics notes spread out before her, alongside several spellbooks she had borrowed from the library. Her latest spell creation was proving to be a challenge, but she relished the complexity.

 

"Finite Incantatem," she whispered, and the parchment before her shimmered before returning to its original state. She frowned, noting the minor imperfections in the spell's execution. Adjustments needed to be made to the wand movements, such as a slight flick instead of a swish.

 

As she meticulously revised her notes, her mind drifted to the latest incident involving Professor Quirrell. The Dragon Egg Poker game debacle had seen Quirrell chased out of the castle, an outcome Hermione had engineered carefully. She had no tolerance for recklessness, especially when it endangered the children at Hogwarts. Although she wasn't friends with Harry Potter or Ronald Weasley, she felt a vague sense of duty to ensure their safety from a distance.

 

Her musings were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. Daphne Greengrass, one of the few students Hermione could somewhat tolerate, peeked in.

 

"Hermione, up for a walk by the lake? The weather's perfect," Daphne suggested, her tone casual but her eyes curious.

 

Hermione considered the offer. A break could provide a new perspective on her spellwork. She nodded, gathering her things and following Daphne from the common room.

 

The grounds of Hogwarts were awash with spring colours. Flowers bloomed in vibrant hues, and the Forbidden Forest seemed less menacing under the bright sun. As they walked, Daphne chatted about trivial matters—her family, the latest gossip—but Hermione's mind was elsewhere, analysing the properties of the spells she was developing.

 

Suddenly, a commotion near the edge of the lake caught their attention. A group of third-year students had gathered, their excited whispers carrying over the water. Hermione's eyes narrowed as she spotted Draco Malfoy among them, his posture tense and his expression more anxious than usual.

 

"Stay here," Hermione instructed Daphne, her voice low and commanding.

 

She approached the group, her presence commanding immediate attention. Her bushy hair was slightly dishevelled, her eyes were filled with determination, and her wand was held with a steady grip. "What's going on here?" she demanded, her voice firm and authoritative.

 

Draco turned to her, his usual bravado faltering. "It's—It's a Grindylow. It's got one of the first-years."

 

Hermione's eyes darkened with fury. Pushing past the students, she saw the small, struggling form of a first-year being dragged towards the deeper waters by the creature.

 

Without a moment's hesitation, Hermione drew her wand. "Relashio!" she shouted, directing the spell at the Grindylow. The creature screeched, releasing its grip on the child, who quickly swam to safety with the help of the older students.

 

The Grindylow, now furious, turned its attention towards Hermione. She met its gaze unflinchingly. "Incendio!" she cast, sending a jet of fire towards the creature and forcing it to retreat into the lake's depths.

 

Turning to the rescued first-year, Hermione softened her expression. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice gentle.

 

The child nodded, still trembling. "Th-Thank you, Hermione."

 

She nodded curtly, her eyes scanning the group of students. "This is a reminder to all of you," she said, her voice firm. "Hogwarts can be dangerous. Always be vigilant, and never wander near the lake or the forest alone." Her words were filled with a sense of urgency, of course the books didn’t mention these sort of encounters, but considering these creatures where used in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, they’d have to be here all the time, how had no one put in precautions for this?

 

As the group dispersed, Daphne approached her, a mixture of awe and respect in her eyes. "You make a habit out of saving people, don't you?" she said, her voice filled with admiration and a hint of teasing.

 

Hermione shrugged, though her heart was still pounding with adrenaline. "It was nothing. Just necessary."

 

Daphne raised an eyebrow. "Nothing? Like the troll incident?"

 

Hermione's expression remained neutral. "That was low risk. I knew what I was doing."

 

Daphne smirked. "You call facing a fully grown mountain troll low risk? You're unbelievable. It's no wonder half the school looks up to you, even the seventh years."

 

Hermione replied, exasperated, "I meant the Grindylow Daph. Besides, you'd think the teacher would have done something about dangerous creatures in the lake or prevented the children from going near it. Why didn't the Wards stop them, I wonder?" She was genuinely curious about the effectiveness of the magical protections around the lake. She couldn't help but wonder if there was a flaw in the Wards, or if there was a way to improve them to ensure the safety of the students.

 

Daphne was surprised she knew something Hermione didn't and replied with no small amount of satisfaction, "Ward's don't really work under water very well, so it's somewhat impossible to stop the creatures coming into the water, the best you can do is put something there that hunts them which is one of the reasons the Giant Squid is there."

 

Hermione zeroed in on the Wards part. "Really? They don't work underwater. How interesting, I wonder if that's because water's a natural shield to magic?" She was always curious about the properties of magic and how they interacted with the natural world. This new information about the limitations of Wards underwater sparked a new line of thought in her mind, one that could potentially lead to a breakthrough in her spell creation.

 

Daphne smirked. "Not exactly. Wards and wand magic are a little different, runic magic is interfered with by large amounts of water whilst most wand magic doesn't care."

 

Hermione wondered if Runic Magic and Warding was like Radio Waves, where it was useless through salt water, which is why Submarines had to come above the water to send and receive transmissions; that was interesting; it worked like her Lumos spell did, but that suggested a large enough saltwater shield would repel it. Thinking about it, she wasn't aware of any shields that conjured salt water. Would that be the solution to her Gamma Ray spell for shielding herself? Would it also work against other curses?

 

They continued their walk silently, the incident weighing heavily on Hermione's mind. She had acted instinctively, driven by an unwavering need to protect the children. It was a part of her that she couldn't fully explain, even to herself. She couldn't remember being driven like that in her past life, but she also couldn't remember children being endangered like they were here.

 

Later that evening, back in the common room, Hermione reflected on the day's events. The Grindylow event shouldn't have been able to happen in the first place. Was this just Hogwarts that was so lax, or did other magical schools have the same problems?

 

As she returned to her spell notes, she made a silent vow. No child would suffer under her watch. She would use every ounce of her intelligence, every bit of her cunning, to ensure that.

 

A sudden knock from the table interrupted her thoughts. Blaise Zabini, another Slytherin, stood there, his expression serious. "Hermione, Professor Dumbledore wants to see you in his office. He said it's urgent. You were a little engrossed in your thoughts, sorry for startling you."

 

Hermione's curiosity was piqued. She gathered her notes and went to Dumbledore's office, the familiar path through the castle's corridors calming her racing thoughts.

 

When she arrived, the office door was slightly ajar. She knocked and entered, finding Professor Dumbledore seated behind his desk, accompanied by two elderly figures who radiated an aura of wisdom and power.

 

"Miss Granger, please come in," Dumbledore said warmly. "May I introduce Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel?"

 

Hermione's eyes widened slightly. The Flamel's were legendary figures, known for creating the Philosopher's Stone. This was unexpected.

 

"Mr. and Mrs. Flamel, this is Hermione Granger," Dumbledore continued. "One of our brightest students, and a little prone to jumping into dangerous situations, almost to the point that it begs belief she wasn't a Gryffindor."

 

Nicholas Flamel chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Granger. Albus has spoken highly of you."

 

Perenelle Flamel nodded her gaze, kind but penetrating. "Indeed. Your letter was quite detailed and insightful. We appreciate your thoroughness."

 

Hermione inclined her head respectfully. "Thank you, sir, ma'am. It's an honor to meet you both. Please, just call me Hermione."

 

Dumbledore gestured for Hermione to take a seat. "Hermione, the Flamel's have come in response to your letter about the recent disturbances. I must confess, I was surprised to find out a student had discovered what was down there."

 

Hermione sat down, her mind racing with the implications of their presence. Headmaster, you would be best not telling Hagrid that; he managed to alert half of the residents in the pub, which is how the story about the poker game got back to me. Hagrid seems like a wonderfully kind man, but terrible at keeping secrets, honestly, telling Hagrid a secret is just short of putting an ad in the Daily Prophet." A subtle dig at Dumbledore, she was sure he'd done it deliberately, leaving breadcrumbs for Harry to go on his miniature training course.

 

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with amusement and subtle reproach, though his kindly grandfather persona remained firmly in place. "Ah, Hagrid's heart is as big as his love for magical creatures. Sometimes, discretion isn't his strongest suit."

 

Nicholas leaned forward slightly, his expression curious. "You've shown remarkable initiative, Hermione. But I must admit, we were skeptical when we first read your letter about what Albus here had done with my stone."

 

Hermione met his gaze steadily. "I understand, sir. But age doesn't necessarily determine one's ability to perceive and analyse, nor does it determine one's truthworthyness. I've always believed in using logic and evidence to draw conclusions, regardless of the field of study."

 

Perenelle raised an eyebrow, exchanging a glance with Nicholas. "An interesting perspective for a first-year student. Tell us, Hermione, how did you come to these conclusions about the disturbances?"

 

Hermione hadn't thought of a response to that question being raised, being put on the spot without an answer, because she couldn't really say 'because I saw it happen in a past life' so she went with something a little cliché but she'd have to play some subterfuge "I'm sorry, I don't quiet understand, it was terribly obvious, I mean I worked out a lot of before Yule and during the Headmasters speech when he told the entire castle 'has asked me to remind you that the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death.'"

 

The adults in the room just stood there, a little stunned. Perenelle was the first to snap out of it: "Wait, you remember what he said, word for word, eight months later?"

 

Hermione shrugged. "I've been like that for years. I don't forget anything once I've heard it. I can still remember the exact conversation I had with my mother years after the fact."

 

Nicholas and Perenelle exchanged looks of astonishment. Nicholas spoke first. "That's quite a remarkable ability, Hermione. An eidetic memory is rare and incredibly valuable."

 

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with new interest. "It certainly explains your exceptional performance in all your classes. Such a talent will serve you well in many ways, Hermione."

 

Hermione nodded modestly. "Oh, I'm not entirely convinced my memory is that good to call it that, but it certainly helps recall information, however if that's all it took to be smart then Parrots would be our overlords. There's no value in regurgitating facts without understanding, plus whilst I can recall the words and facts about it, that doesn't mean I can read something, become an expert or cast the spells perfectly without practice, yes it gives me an edge but it's useless without hard work."

 

Perenelle smiled widely. "You have a wise head on your shoulders, Hermione. It's good you understand your gift well. Most people with that type of memory think they know everything just because they read it in a book." Hermione smiled to herself. That sounded an awful lot like the Hermione from the books.

 

Nicholas chuckled, "I believe Perenelle has found her next obsession." He dodged a swipe from his wife and couldn't help the snort that came from at her being so childish, a trait she'd retained over the centuries.

 

As the discussion in Dumbledore's office began to wind down, Perenelle Flamel turned to Hermione with a thoughtful expression. "Hermione, would you care to join me for a walk around Hogwarts? I find that a bit of fresh air often helps to clear the mind."

 

Hermione nodded, intrigued by the offer. "Of course, Mrs. Flamel. I'd like that."

 

Perenelle smiled and rose gracefully from her chair. "Wonderful. Nicholas, Albus, we'll be back shortly."

 

Dumbledore and Nicholas exchanged knowing glances, their expressions a mix of curiosity and amusement. "Take your time," Dumbledore said warmly.

 

As Hermione and Perenelle left the office and began to walk down the corridor, the older witch's eyes seemed to take in every detail of the castle's architecture and ambience. Hermione matched her pace, waiting for the inevitable questions.

 

"You've shown remarkable insight for someone so young," Perenelle began as they walked. "Tell me, Hermione, what is it you're wanting to do? You're letter whilst very polite was filled with honey'd words, almost like you wanted something from me personally?"

 

Hermione considered her response carefully. "I've always had a thirst for knowledge. Learning comes naturally to me, and I've never been satisfied with just the basics. I want to understand how and why things work, I've made a couple of spells myself, I'm sure the Headmaster told you about the troll."

 

Perenelle nodded approvingly. "A commendable attitude. But I sense there's more to it. Your letter was not just thorough; it demonstrated a depth of understanding that goes beyond a typical first-year student. I know with your gift you'd be smart, but that type of gift usually results in people very immature but trying to act as if they're not, you however are the complete opposite of the hubris that gift should have created."

 

Hermione nodded, feeling the mood take a more sombre turn. "I suppose it's a combination of observation and being subjected to my peers' bullying when I was younger." She paused, considering whether she should divulge this fact, but felt it would be better to be honest. "Before my 11th birthday, things were horrible, I.. I was going to end it all, I couldn't' deal with the children's bullying, constantly feeling like I was different. I'm not sure what happened during those few days, but I remember waking up a few days before my birthday feeling completely different. I no longer cared about what they thought, they meant nothing to me."

 

They turned a corner, the castle grounds coming into view through a large window. Perenelle paused to admire the scenery before continuing. "That's a sad story Hermione, I get the impression there's a blank gap in your memory between when things got bad and when you changed?"

 

Hermione nodded. "Yes, my mom filled me in what happened, I can only assume I went into a dissociative state. As to the change in my personality, or rather, feelings on other people's actions, I don't know enough about Psychology, but I believe it was a defence mechanism."

 

Perenelle's eyes sparkled with interest. "And how do you handle it emotionally now after that? Being able to recall everything so vividly must be both a blessing and a burden."

 

Hermione hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "It can be challenging, Mrs. Flamel. There are times when I wish I could forget certain things, especially the negative aspects. I often find it difficult to ignore the negative things I remember about people. It's like I have a catalogue of every hurtful word, every betrayal, and every mistake that people around me have made. It's frustrating when I can recall those moments so clearly, yet those same people seem to forget what they've done or said in the past."

 

Perenelle nodded, her expression one of empathy and understanding. "That does sound difficult. It must be hard to interact with people when you have such vivid memories of their past actions."

 

Hermione sighed softly. "It is. For instance, if someone has been cruel or dismissive to me, it's hard to let that go when I remember every detail of their behaviour. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, to believe that they can change, but it's not easy. Especially when they act as though those moments never happened."

 

Perenelle continued walking, her pace slow and deliberate. "It's a heavy burden to carry, Hermione. How do you manage to navigate your relationships with this constant recall of past events?"

 

Hermione looked thoughtful. "To be honest, I don't have many real relationships outside of my family and my familiar. I have some people I'm friendly with, but no real friends. It's hard to let people get close when you remember every slight and hurtful comment."

 

Perenelle's interest was piqued. "Your familiar? That's quite advanced for someone your age. Tell me more about this companion of yours."

 

Hermione felt a slight, proud smile tug at her lips. "Her name is Angitia. She's been a great source of comfort."

 

Perenelle smiled warmly. "A familiar can indeed be a powerful ally and source of support. It's clear that you have a deep connection with her. How did you come to have such a bond?"

 

Hermione shrugged slightly. "Hogwarts helped on that actually, being a snake, they are not usually the smartest of animals but the magic allowed her to increase her intellect, after I collapsed from exhaustion and was in the medical wing with Madam Pomfrey, Angitia got agitated and escaped her serpentarium, and came looking for me, normally snakes are rather solitary so it surprised me, especially when she started to climb up my arm whenever I leave the dorms."

 

Perenelle nodded thoughtfully as they continued their walk. "It sounds like you've found a true companion in Angitia. I know my familiar, Daisy, was very helpful before she passed."

 

Hermione felt a sense of relief at Perenelle's understanding and a little sad at the mention of her familiar passing. "Thank you, Mrs. Flamel. This was more cathartic than I expected it to be. I've not told anyone else about Angitia nor about my past."

 

Perenelle placed a gentle hand on Hermione's shoulder. "We all need support, Hermione, no matter how strong or capable we are. And I have no doubt that you will find your way and make a significant impact with your abilities. Just remember to be kind to yourself as well."

 

Perenelle found a bench and sat down, indicating Hermione to join her.

 

"So, I came here today to turn you down for an apprenticeship. I got that intention from your letter. Old wards at our home tell us of such things," she said with a small smile.

 

Hermione was a little defeated at this. "Thank you for being honest with me ab..."

 

Perenelle interrupted Hermione, "But! That was before I met you. I expected a snot-nosed know-it-all child. No, you have wisdom beyond your years and a weight on your shoulders. You are not a trusting person, but your heart is in a good place." She pulled a drink from her bag, taking a sip before continuing, "I'm too old to take on an apprentice, but I'd be happy to correspond with you and exchange ideas if you'd like."

 

Hermione regained her vigour. It wasn't everything she wanted, but it was still a major success. "I'd like that, thank you."

 

Perenelle just smiled fondly at Hermione. "Well, I better get back to Nick before he burns his eyebrows off again. Every time he meets up with Albus, he does something foolish. You'd think at his age he'd have learned better by now."

 

Hermione tried and failed to stifle a giggle at the image of Nicholas Flamel and Dumbledore burning their eyebrows off. Composing herself, "Then I best let you go before he burns his beard at the same time. It was a pleasure speaking to you today." Then she turned and left for the dorm room.

 

The letter had worked as well as she hoped; an apprenticeship would have been time-consuming, she realised, and would have taken her away from Hogwarts, so this was the better option and allowed her to deal with 'he-who-has-no-nose'.