Hermione Granger and the Year Hidden from Hogwarts

Chapter 19

Hermione Granger and the Year Hidden from Hogwarts

Harry Potter Fanfiction

Chapter 19

A/N: Here we are, an end to your cliffhanger, though I would argue that you didn't suffer much since this came out less than twenty-four hours later 😉

April 18th, 1992

Hermione's breath caught.

Flitwick apologized. "I'm sorry for my poor choice of words. I should say, it's nothing bad or dangerous, but for such an inquisitive young witch as yourself, you won't be happy to learn that I don't have an answer for why you were shielded from the Book of Admittance."

Hermione nodded.

"I ran every test I could think of, including some potently powerful ones. They all came back inconclusive. I can tell there's an ancient, powerful magic cast over you, but I'm unable to determine the extent of it, what it is, or how it got there. Quite frankly, its some of the most impressive spell work I've ever seen, and it's on a Muggle-born who's supposedly never been around magical people before. It's most unusual."

Hermione grinned, her relief helping to find her humor. "Don't you mean uncommon?"

Flitwick raised an eyebrow at her cheekiness. "No, I'm afraid this just isn't a rare instance, it's... bizarre." He pondered something. "Are you adopted, Miss Granger?"

The Earth titled beneath her feet. "No," she breathed. Not that she knew of.

He must've sensed her hesitation but was perceptive enough not to comment on it. "Hmm. In any case, perhaps it would be to just get this sorted out at Gringotts. The goblins use blood magic and many of the old ways to conduct their business, so we'll be able to learn a little bit more about your family's history at that time."

And possibly discover if they even were her family.

"Gringotts?" she questioned, latching onto the simplest concept in his loaded words.

"A bank. The goblins like their treasure, so they run the currency systems for the Wizarding World."

"Oh, good. At least it's not run by dragons," Hermione joked weakly. Everything felt a little too Lord of the Rings, and it would terrify her to have to ask for a withdrawal from some Smaug reincarnation.

"Run by, no, but the goblins do employ one to guard their most secure vaults."

"A dragon?" she checked, because she needed to hear it repeated.

Flitwick's mustache twitched in amusement. "Yes."

Hermione leaned back in her seat, convinced more than ever that the Wizarding World had a way to keep their lives a secret from... what had he called people like her parents? Muggles?

If there were giant flying reptiles the size of buses—or bigger—flying around, she would've read about it in the news.

Hermione cleared her throat. "Are there any books on... well anything? Everything? I'm feeling lost here."

"Of course, Miss Granger! In fact, I do have some documents with me to answer some of your most pressing questions. Concerning the owl, since you're Muggle-born, your parents and you will have the opportunity to tour Diagon Alley with Minerva, from there, you'll be able to make your decision and post your response at the Owl Post Office that day for only three sickles."

The Wizarding World had its own currency. That made sense.

Hermione glanced around the room. "What if we would need more time to make a decision?"