Hermione Granger and the Year Hidden from Hogwarts

Chapter 29

Hermione Granger and the Year Hidden from Hogwarts

Harry Potter Fanfiction

Chapter 29

A/N: Not much to say for this chapter except thanks! We're wrapping up the first leg of this journey, and then it's Hogwarts for Hermione who will have to face the scrutiny from the student body for having a student start as a second year. One more chapter after this!

April 25th, 1992

With a crack, Hermione and Flitwick reappeared within her dorm, only for Hermione to immediately be grabbed by a frantic mass.

"Oh, mistress, when you didn't return, I got frantic. I cannot feel your side of the bond, so I did not know if you were okay—"

"Miss Granger," Flitwick called sharply. She turned. He looked deadly with the fierce expression on his face paired with the unerring aim of his wand pointed at what he rightly would assume was a threat.

By some miracle, he hadn't cast any spells, and she could only assume it was due to the man's sharp mind and quick wit.

Needlessly, she said, "Don't hurt him. Erl isn't a danger."

Several thoughts chased across his face in rapid succession. "Erl? An odd name for an erkling. And just when had you planned to inform me that you'd run across a child-eating elven creature? Based on the bed and trinkets up on that shelf near the ceiling, though small they must be too large for the fire-sala—" he trailed off, his eyes rounding. "You! You dumped a fire-dwelling salamander in my hands and then took off without a word of explanation!"

She cleared her throat. "The Trials were starting, and I didn't want Ignis to get hurt."

Flitwick paused. "You named a fire salamander 'fire?' I guess that answers the question on whether you knew if these animals were magical or not. And since they seem quite comfortable buried in the heart of this government building, would it be safe to assume that they aren't a secret from these muggles?"

She cleared her throat and shook her head.

Flitwick remained quiet for a long time though his wand lowered. That seemed important. "I think you have some explaining to do, don't you, Miss Granger."

She tried not to wince at the cold formality of how he'd returned to her family name. "I'm sorry, professor! It might seem like I betrayed your trust, but—"

Flitwick sighed, lowering his wand the rest of the way though he still kept his sharp attention on the erkling who'd, becoming aware to the tension, had begun edging himself in between the professor and her. "Mis—Hermione, please don't feel as if you were in trouble. You've done nothing wrong. We've been through a lot today, and the contract we signed has made me feel more... responsible for your well-being than I anticipated. Despite these strong feelings, you didn't know me that first day."

Hermione bit her lip, not replying out loud but dipping her chin.

"And," he continued. "you were right to be wary of a new person, telling you fantastical stories. I would even further guess that my reaction to the news about the demiguise didn't help instill a desire to share, correct?"

She shook her head.

"I take responsibility for this, and in no way do I blame you for keeping this from me. But before we delve more into that, would you care to give me a quick run down on anything you might've left out."

Hermione explained how the demiguise had prompted a race of sorts to find other magical, as she knew them now, creatures. They assumed she had some sort of bond with the animals, a way to connect to them based on her ability to both see the demiguise and draw it out of its cautious nature.