Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

2

Once Hermione had finished getting dressed, she hurried back downstairs where she entered into a fight her parents and Grandma were having. 

"You two don't have to go, but Hermione will have to. We'll need her to get fitted for her school uniform." Grandma Elka claimed, with a nod of her head. Her parents glanced at each other and clearly were defeated. They were going to come, knowing they weren't about to leave their only daughter with her Grandma, who seemed to be completely out of her mind. Grandma Elka turned as she wrapped her arm in with Hermione's arm. 

"Alright to the Leaky Cauldron, maybe we can stop for something to eat... or to drink." Grandma Elka claimed as they started to head out. 

After a long drive, they reached London. Hermione kept her eyes opened for the Leaky Cauldron just like her Grandma, who looked a bit worried. It was not like her Grandma to be worried like this. Grandma Elka usually was fiery and fierce, not letting anyone walk over her. But now it looked like something so horrible happened right before her eyes she was full of concern and worry. After a couple of minutes, Hermione spotted the sign for the Leaky Cauldron. 

"There it is!" Hermione called out, pointing at it. 

"What are you talking about? I don't see it." Mom said, bewildered, as she glanced around the street. 

"Muggles can't see the sign, dearie. It's for the protection of wizard kind." Grandma blurted out. Hermione glanced over at her Grandmother. 

"Muggles?" 

"Non-magical folks dear." Grandma Elka explained to her. Hermione tilted her head. 

"Do you see it, Grandma?" Hermione asked curiously, "Are you a wizard?" 

"No... I'm what you call a squib. A non-magical person come from wizard parents." Grandma answered a bit hesitative. 

"Mom, you've never told me about that! How come?" Mom asked Grandma, who seemed to be thinking of what to say next. 

"It's not something one talks or brags about. Especially in the Wizarding world." Grandma claimed, "Now everyone out, it's time to go in." 

They all shuffled out of the car once Dad had parked it, and hurried to the doorway, which Hermione's Mom and Dad had to follow them to see where they were going. Grandma opened the door and they all hurried inside the place. It was a dark pub with people everyone in long velvet robes, mumbling to themselves. A few of them took a glance at the sight of them before going back to their conversation. Hermione held onto her Grandma's hand and stayed as close to her as possible. They crossed the pub as quickly as possible when they accidentally bumped into someone. 

"Oh, beg your pardon, sir." Grandma Elka said. Hermione shot her head up to see a man with a purple turban wrapped around his head. 

"N-- No trouble at a-- all," The man told them. His eyes met with Hermione for a brief moment and she could have sworn she saw another pair of eyes peering right back at her... a pair of scarlet, snake-like eyes. She snapped out of it when she felt her Grandma lightly pat her on the back and nudged her along. Hermione quicken her steps. She couldn't help but have a glance back at the man, who had now turned his focus on his drink. Even though he wasn't looking at her, Hermione was sure she felt like he was looking at her for some reason. 

They walked out of the pub and towards a small backyard heading to a brick wall that was blocking their way through. 

"Now what, Elka?" Dad asked. Grandma shot him a glare before moving her hands along the bricks in a certain pattern. The moment Grandma Elka pulled her hand back from the wall, the bricks began moving to the sides. Hermione's eyes widened and her mouth dropped as she stared at the sight before her. 

"Welcome Hermione, to Diagon Alley," Grandma Elka told her, taking hold of her hand and proceeded through the crowd. Mom and Dad followed behind them, gawking and mumbling things like 'this can't be real' or 'this isn't happening'. Hermione glanced around at the stores, amazed at the sights and sounds and smells. She couldn't believe what she was looking at. All of this was so unbelievable, it couldn't possibly be real. But it was. It was all around her, telling her magic exists and she was now part of its world. 

"Hermione don't touch anything," Grandma Elka told her. Hermione didn't realized she had reached out her hand near a pet shop with a bunch of owls all around. 

"Before we can buy anything, we'll have to visit Gringotts. That's the wizard's bank. This way, please." Grandma Elka declared as she lead them to a building at the end of the street. Hermione was amaze how her Grandma could move around like this wasn't all strange and unusual and difficult. She seemed like a pro and it could very much be that this was Grandma Elka's world before moving to the muggle world as Grandma had called it. And All Hermione could think about was she hoped this world was to be hers as well.