Work Text:
“I came looking for inspiration,” Sophie murmured, leaning into the table. “And found myself honestly blown away.”
Myles looked at the manuscript, an eyebrow rising. “You actually listened to crazy old Sir Alphard and turned his tales into a legible story? I see you didn’t keep the names.”
“Funny enough,” Sophie said, taking a drink of her morning coffee before continuing. “That’s the one thing he insisted on, that all names he used be changed, including the names of places.”
“I wonder why,” Myles said, letting out an amused snort, as if he knew something that Sophie herself didn’t know, yet he didn’t push the matter.
“Yeah. That.” Sophie took a deep breath. “I wish I’d known before I started my Ermine Adger series. Who all in the village knows that this Hermione Granger, not to mention this Harry Potter, are real? I mean, that came as a surprise when Lexi started dating a wizard — the Percy who was the oldest of the Weasley siblings when Hermione and Harry started attending and then, wow.”
“Sorry, I couldn’t let you know,” Myles said. “And I don’t really know who all is a wizard or witch? I know Thomas is, but he met Maisie at Hogwarts, and her husband, her ex-husband, was one of their classmates. As you know, my status as future Duke meant I was schooled at home, as much as that worked out, given the previous Duke leaving the debts he did.”
“But they’re quite real,” Sophie said. “And there is,” she paused, “Was a war really going on?”
“Yes. I had an inkling Alphard was a wizard from some of the things he rambled about, yet I’m not quite sure how he got some of the details. And I’ve not seen the man recently. Angus isn’t sure where he went, but he’s said something about Alphard being of the Black family. Which is actually a real noble family in both Muggle and Wizard standing, whereas my family only has the Muggle standing and would rather keep to ourselves since the secrecy act,” Myles said. “It is ever so complicated.”
“Yes. Well, let’s hope this Hermione Granger never reads my Ermine Adger book series,” Emma said. “I’m leery of publishing another, yet my readers adore the story.”
“And the ministry hasn’t cracked down, which means they haven’t made the connection.”
“Well, details were vague. Maisie,” Sophie took a deep sigh. “Oh boy, did she find my version of sorting amusing, being that I sorted via academic, athletic, and social standing, resulting in six houses, along with boy and girl dorms.” She frowned. “And is this Hermione Granger really dating…”
“Apparently,” Myles said. “I honestly don’t mind the gossip, but you may want to avoid saying anything negative about Percy’s youngest brother when he’s around.”
“Oh, I know,” Sophie said, eyebrows rising. “That didn’t go over well.”
…
Hermione never expected to be on speaking terms with her sister Elizabeth, yet after the war they reconnected. The reconnecting started off a bit rough, given Hermione erased their parents memories for a year, leaving Elizabeth and also their younger sister Jules unable to contact their parents, and yet Elizabeth knew full well the war that was going on, attending Beauxbatons as she was while Juliet would soon be transfering to Hogwarts, having kept up via home schooling and being also in desperate need of socialization.
“I’ll be there this year,” Hermione remembered saying.
“What do you mean you’ll be there this year?” Elizabeth said. “Shouldn’t you have graduated?”
“Well, a lot of students lost out on an entire year’s worth of education, what with the school being taken over by Voldemort,” Hermione said, watching Elizabeth’s eyes go wide. “And definitely not a place I was safe, if you catch my drift.”
“You, not being able to attend school,” Elizabeth murmured. “I guess I could transfer for my final year.”
Hermione’s eyes widened. “You don’t have to.”
“I want to make things easier for Jules,” Elizabeth said. “I’m worried about her actually attending an actual school, after so many years of being home schooled, even before finding out she was a witch.”
And now they were shopping, but not…
“You couldn’t get this book from grandfather’s shop?” Hermione asked.
“No,” Elizabeth said. “I don’t know why, but he absolutely refused to sell it, yet he is more than willing to sell her Emma Gale series.”
Hermione’s eyes blinked. “Oh. I’ve not read that series in forever. How many books are there now?”
“Thirteen?” Elizabeth said. “I hope that this isn’t the last one in her Ermine Adger series, as Ermine Adger and the Orb of Memories is book number thirteen, and it’s only been four years! Well, five-ish? She releases three a year, and they’re absolutely wonderful romance novels. I’m personally rooting for Ermine Adger to get with Darroch Mahaffy instead of Harris Porterfield, but Ronald Wean annoys the hell out of me. I can’t believe some people ship Ermine with him!”
“Of course,” Hermione shook her head. “A romance series.”
“Romance?” Elizabeth turned, shaking her head. “You can actually thank this book series for helping me come to terms with being magical, with being okay with attending a magical school even though I can’t tell my Muggle friends, because we can at least discuss the books! Ermine attends this school called Piggleyhead and is sorted into the Dragonworth house despite being of non-magical parent status and more of the academic than athletic type.”
“What?” Hermione frowned. “Hold on a second. Hogwarts has a sorting as well.”
“Oh,” Elizabeth said. “I’m sure it’s just a coincidence. It’s like the Worst Witch series. Fictional.”
“Sure,” Hermione said, following Elizabeth into the bookstore, the bell jingling. At the same time, something felt off, nor did she feel comfortable with the gaggle of girls that were surrounding the books Elizabeth wanted to go for, so at first, she didn’t see all of the titles.
But then—
Hermione frowned, deciding to crack open a copy of Ermine Adger and the Orb of Journeys while carefully reading over the list and…
“Hey. Lizzy?” Hermione said, frowning. “The second book in the series?”
“Oh. Ermine Adger and the Christmas Troll?” That’s the book where Ronald Wean turns Darroch Mahaffy into a troll out of jealousy because Ermine is studying with him in the library.”
Hermione sucked in her breath. “This wouldn’t be her first year, would it?”
“Her first year of high school?” Elizabeth tilted her head. “Yeah. She’s now in the college years.”
“So, Piggleyhead is a high school and college?”
“Yeah. It takes place in America, but is different because of this secret magical community, right?” Elizabeth said. “And Ronald gets so irritated at Ermine for being not only pretty, but smart, which he doesn’t think girls should be — the latter that is…”
“Lizzy…”
“That he tells her being a know-it-all is why she has no friends. Which isn’t true because she’s friends with Harris and Darroch, right? But…”
“Elizabeth.”
“Well, this results in her going to the bathroom crying and him coming to her rescue, only he’s the one at fault all along, so…”
“I need to get some fresh air,” Hermione said, setting down the book. She headed out and—
After a bit, Elizabeth came out with her book purchased. “You okay.”
“First year,” Hermione took a deep breath. “There was an incident with a troll.”
Elizabeth’s eyes blinked. “Surely not.
“Harris Porterfield is Harry Potter.”
“That…” Elizabeth stared, then, “I’ve heard of Harry Potter. He’s the Boy-Who-Lived.”
“And Darroch Mahaffy is Malfoy,” Hermione said. “And we did study in the library our first year, but he turned utterly savage our second year when he failed to get the best grades.”
“No. That was Ronald.”
“Ron’s not this person these books make him out to be,” Hermione said.
“No. I mean, it’s Ronald who is jealous of your grades.”
“And what of Malfoy?”
“Mahaffy,” Elizabeth corrected. “Has a secret crush on Ermine and likes the fact she is smart, but he can’t admit it because his father is a right git. Ronald is the one who is always mocking Hermione for studying, then begging to copy off her school work.”
The came the gasp.
“Please, please tell me you’re not dating Ronald Wean.”
“Ron Wealsey,” Hermione said. “And what of it?”
“He doesn’t respect you,” Elizabeth said, then looked down at her bag, frowning. “I mean, if the books are anything to go on.”
“Fictional,” Hermione said. “I’m sure whoever wrote those books and released them to Muggles exaggerated just as bad as Rita Skeeter.”
“But does he respect you?”
“He agrees with me on House Elves.”
“I…” Elizabeth tilted her head. “So?”
“What do you mean so?”
“Well, I’m aware that he didn’t always agree with that.”
“Well, no.”
“And is he only agreeing to get into your pants.”
“Elizabeth!” Hermione said, shaking her head. “For your information things haven’t progressed that far.”
“Well, they better not,” Elizabeth said.
“Come on. You haven’t met him.”
“Question,” Elizabeth said. “Would you feel comfortable introducing our Muggle parents to him? Would you feel comfortable introducing our autistic sister to?”
“Well…” Hermione—
“See. You don’t. Which means there is some level of conflict there.”
“You weren’t there.”
“How much is it because,” Elizabeth frowned. “Look. I know there is a war going on, and I guess the books are at the point of the war happening, but Mione? Was it all because of the sexual tension, or do you have reasons you like him.”
“Well…” Hermione said.
“Name something. Other than good looks, because you know papa’s lectured us on how superficial that is.”
“Well, he’s good at wizard chess.”
“Oh. He plays wizard chess?”
“Yes.”
“And won tournaments?”
“Well, no.”
“Come back to me on that one after he’s actually won tournaments, even if it’s only the one held at that school you attend. Well, even participating is better than not, honestly”
“Well, he solved the chess game. In our first year,” Hermione said. “Surely that was in your books?”
“Ah. The chess puzzle.” Elizabeth shook her head. “It means nothing. But if he was skilled with chess, why isnt’ he, like in tournaments and stuff.”
Hermione frowned. “Ron is smart.”
“So, he’s one of the top students. His grades are up there with yours and Darroch’s?”
“Draco Malfoy,” Hermione said. “And no. His grades are average I guess? But that’s being unfair to him.”
“He copies off you,” Elizabeth said. “And you’re smart, I know. But not smart when it comes to things like this. I mean, he ruined your Yule Ball. With that one guy. Vincent Krumire?”
“Viktor Krum,” Hermione corrected.
“Wait. As in the…” Elizabeth took her breath.
“Ron’s not like that.”
“So he hasn’t gotten jealous over you dating someone else after that?”
“Well…”
“Hermione, if he’s gotten jealous, it’s a warning sign. It’s one of the things papa told us to watch out with,” Elizabeth said, then paused. “Well, kind of. I kind of figured that out from watching Christmas movies with him and his commentary on the relationships. I think he’s even more clueless than you are, sometimes.”
“I’ll think about it,” Hermione said. “But you do realize this is my life?”
“Come on. Ermine’s the hero of the book series. You’re…”
“Harry’s sidekick?”
“Well, that…” Elizabeth frowned. “Sophie Brown, I mean Sophie McGinty is a Muggle, right? So how does she know about this?”
“Good question.” Hermione took a deep breath. “I think I should take a good look at this book series of yours first.”
…
“Well, I’m surprised, but not surprised,” the Duke of Dunbar said.
Hermione frowned.
“To be honest, she didn’t know until after she started publishing. The person she got the stories from insisted she change the names.”
“But who? Hermione said.
“Alphard,” the Duke said.
“Alphard, as in Alphard Black?” Hermione frowned. “Shouldn’t he be dead, and how would he even know…” She frowned, Elizabeth sitting near her, excited to meet a favorite author. “Practically nobody knows I studdid with Draco MAlfoy during our first year, but it seems like…”
“A lot of the details are from Darroch Mahaffy’s point of view?” Sophie said as she came in. “And I am so sorry. I’ll stop publishing…”
“No, no.” Hermione glanced over at her sister. “Elizabeth started attending Beuaxbatons because of your books, which is another school for witches and wizards, but it’s enough changes that I don’t consider it a breach. I’m more concerned with who you found it out from.”
“Well,” Sophie took a deep breath. “Alphard isn’t a young man.”
“So, definitely not this Draco Malfoy,” Elizabeth said. “I’ve told Hermione he’s a far better choice than Ronald.”
“Wait. So you are dating,” Sophie frowned.
Hermione said. “Sort of. We kind of…” She paused. “Things have always been up and down and currently we are in a down spot.”
“Oh?”
“I did ask if he would be fine with our parents being Muggles, or even our autistic younger sister.”
“He doesn’t even know about Jules,” Hermione said. “But if he is that nonchalant about meeting my parents when I returned their memories. I thought he changed, given what he said about the House Elves.”
“So I heard,” Sophie said. “And you got together because of that.”
“Well, I like him.”
“Do you, or are you dating him because that’s what is expected of you? Are you dating him because you don’t feel you have any other options?” Sophie said. “And for your information, Percy’s actually admitted that his brother can be a bit, uh, clueless?”
“That was putting it nicely,” the duke said.
“But are you honestly okay with how he treated you and this Lavender girl?”
“What is she talking about?” Elizabeth asked.
“Well, no,” Hermione frowned, then, “Don’t worry about it.”
“Why? I want my sister to be treated right,” Elizabeth said.
“Ron isn’t a bad person.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to be a good partner for you,” Sophie said. “My ex…”
“The one you killed off in your final book?” Elizabeth said.
“Really?” Sophie said.
“Even I got that when I caught up on the books,” Hermione said. “You know, it was the one thing prior to Hogwarts we…” She pointed at Elizabeth. “Bonded over. I liked the mystery, and she the romance aspect.”
“Oh. Thank you.” Sophie took a deep breath. “I did write that out of anger, and as my daughter says he’s likely to marry again and be on his third marriage before too long, but he’s still the father of my daughter and loves her at the end of the day, so that in itself should be proof he’s not a bad person. But, you also don’t want it to get to the point there are children, because that’s not fair to them.”
“No,” Hermione said. “I’d not thought that far. I’d not thought really about dating anyone and instead pushing forth academically and excelling in all subjects.”
“Which means you’ve really not thought about who you want to be with,” Sophie said. “And I’m definitely leaning towards not Harris as what I’ve been told later on seems more like a brother?”
“Yeah. That’s Harry,” Hermione said. “Yu could say Darroch isn’t an option either. It’s just…”
“You’ll meet someone,” Sophie said. “No need to rush into these things. Did you know that statistically, high school sweethearts have very low chances of succeeding? This isn’t to say they can’t, but people do a lot of growing and progressing after their school years.”
“I’ll definitely take your advice,” Hermione said. “But you don’t know where this Alphard is?”
“No, but if he shows up, we’ll let him know you’d like to speak with him,” the duke of Dunbar said. “I’d certainly like to speak with him, but if he’s the Alphard Black… that raises a lot of questions.”
“Like, yes,” Hermione said. “It brings into question the entire Black family tapestry, if he is alive, but marked as dead on that.” She then frowned. “I think. He is blasted off?”
“And I’ve no clue what she’s talking about,” Elizabeth said.
“Likewise,” Sophie said. “I mean, there was some mention of the tapestry, and it will be showing up in The Dark Christmas if I publish it, but the way he spoke of it is it allowed the Black family to hide secrets.”
“Oh, Harry’s not going to like this,” Hermione said. “But thank you for your time.”
“You’re welcome,” the duke said.
“IT’s also nice meeting you,” Elizabeth chimed in.