Hermione Granger and the Year Hidden from Hogwarts

Chapter 15

Hermione Granger and the Year Hidden from Hogwarts

Harry Potter Fanfiction

Chapter 15

A/N: I'm so excited, I can't even begin to describe! Thank you to all of you reading this on AO3 for the lovely reviews. They've encouraged me a lot. We're getting so close to Hermione dipping further into the magical world now. I mean, it's now 1992, so Hermione is less than a year away from starting Hogwarts. Hold on tight to your brooms, people!

January 7th, 1992

"And this will be your room," Ms. Walker said.

Hermione stared at the room, Office 6 was what it used to be called, but someone had replaced the nameplate to read only "Hermione Granger."

"We've had the laboratory chemical spill showers remodeled to now have a private bathroom for you, but I figured you would enjoy having the freedom to just step out of your bedroom and be where all your research is." Ms. Walker widened her arms to include the familiar settings of Laboratory 5.

It'd certainly become a home away from home, but never had Hermione conceived that it'd become her actual home.

And since MI5 was a clandestine intelligence agency, that meant that she had no real address.

When her parents had hugged and kissed her to within an inch of her life in the upstairs lobby, someone must've taken care of collecting her belongings because the two suitcases sat on the drab white comforter of her twin-sized bed.

Ms. Walker continued on, a real-estate agent intent on making the sale. "Dr. Hampton and Charles insisted that you'd enjoy a few bookcases in here, as well as a desk, so if you want a lazy day shut in, you won't have to leave the comforts of your room."

Hermione ran her fingers over the wall. It smelled of fresh paint, but it was dry. From the white blanket, white walls, pale grey linoleum, and oakwood shelving, this room was as plain as plain could get. "Will I have those? Days off?"

"Certainly, Hermione, but if I know you, you'll be spending every moment here taking advantage of the opportunities at your fingertips."

Hermione glanced back at Ms. Walker.

"Tell me I'm wrong."

"You're not wrong," Hermione admitted. It was the only thing that made this ordeal bearable. If she wanted to learn advanced maths, they'd track down a maths professor. If she wanted to polish her Mandarin skills, they'd hire a native language tutor.

At least, that was their pitch.

She'd see how well they followed through in time. She glanced up. "Where will Erk stay?"

Hermione could already feel the pull of needing proximity to refresh the bindings. It'd been nearly two weeks since she'd seen him last. The agency had generously allowed her all of the Christmas holidays to enjoy her time with her parents and prepare for her move.

"Erk? Oh, Subject 202. It will be getting a new permanent housing added in, so any time you need to see it, all you have to do is step outside."

A neat little golden cage. They'd match.

And she deserved it for what she'd done to him.

Whether it was forcing the bond or something about messing up weaving the tether, she wasn't sure, but her connection with Ignis couldn't be further from the heavy-handed slavery she'd forced on the erkling.

It was as if he'd had his entire personality wiped. His only goal was to serve her. Every interaction coated her in a cloying, nauseous ooze of guilt and disgust, but staying away wasn't an option either. He went insane, beating his head bloody if he went too long without being in her presence.