Toil and Trouble Chapter 7 : Preludes and Preparations - Part 1 (A Harry Potter fanfiction)

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(Due to the length of this chapter it has been divided into three parts. Here's Part 1.)

July 2, 1993. Granger Residence, Hampstead

Hermione Granger reclined on a chair in the sitting room of her home. In her hands was the day's newspaper. Usually it took her all but a few minutes to finish the crossword, but at the moment, her mind wasn't on it. She was simply staring into the black and white boxes while internally tying herself in knots, anticipating the arrival of Professor Minerva McGonagall, and the magical law enforcement official called an Auror. She looked at the old grandfather's clock against the wall and saw that it was about quarter past one.

It, being the middle of summer, was a clear day and Hermione could look out the window and get an unobstructed view of the street in front of the house. She wondered if the professor and the auror would walk to their house, or if would they apparate. From what she had read about it, apparation usually produces a cracking sound. And that it felt similar to being forced through a very tight opening, probably quite unpleasant for first timers. Hermione had always hated roller-coasters and feared that apparation might feel similar.

She was just wondering if she should take some of her motion sickness medicine with her, when the knock came.

Were they here already?

Hermione pushed back her chair and ran to the door.

“I’ll get it!” she called over her shoulder, and saw that her parents were right behind her. They too had been waiting with bated breath.

When she pulled the door open, sunlight caught on the brass fittings of the letterbox, and on the two figures waiting outside. There stood Minerva McGonagall, stately and handsome in robes and an angular hat. Beside her was a man of about thirty. He was wearing black trousers and what looked like a grey trench coat, though the design looked very old fashioned.

"Professor!", Hermione exclaimed delightedly.

“Miss Granger, ” the older witch smiled at the younger one's obvious excitement. "How are you today?"

“I'm.... I'm well Professor ” Hermione managed, "and yourself?"

"Very well, my dear.", McGonagall then looked past Hermione and greeted her parents, "Doctor and Doctor, This is Auror Cyril Campbell, from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Magic." Hugo and Rose shook hands with Auror Campbell, exchanging polite greetings.

"We have come to escort you and your your daughter to the Ministry for formal registration," said Auror Campbell, "As I'm sure was intimated in the acceptance letter."

Hugo looked at his wife, because asking “Do we… simply drive there? To the location of this Dimensional Fold?”

“Ordinarily we would Apparate directly,” McGonagall said. “However, doing so twice in succession can be very uncomfortable for first-timers. I suggest we take your car to the Fold’s threshold and proceed from there. The Fold is located just outside of London, at Hadley Wood.

Rose decided they should take the Range Rover, as it would fit all of them comfortably. The way Cyril complemented the vehicle made it seem that automobiles were not new to him.

"Have you been to the Muggle world before, sir?", Hermione asked, sitting between the auror and the professor in the back seat.

"Well, Miss Granger, I'm what we call a 'half blood'. My father was a Muggle-born just like you. I have quite a few relatives in Muggle Scotland. So yes, I'm quite familiar with the Muggle world."

McGonagall sat ramrod-straight, her cloak neatly folded across her knees.

“Professor,” Hermione asked after a few minutes, as Rose drove them, “what does Apparition feel like?”

McGonagall considered. “Imagine being drawn through a narrow tube, as if the air itself were pushing against you. It lasts no more than a heartbeat. Disconcerting, but not painful.”

“I see.” Hermione tried to memorise the phrasing, disconcerting, not painful, as though classification could make the unknown manageable.

Her father cleared his throat. “This contract, Professor.... you'd told us the last time that it would prevent us from telling non magical people about your world. How exactly does it do that?”

“In effect,” McGonagall said. “It is a magical vow bound by intention. Once signed, it prevents the signer from revealing our world to anyone who doesn't have magic, or to anyone not already bound by the same secrecy. The mind remains free, but the body will not cooperate. Words will refuse to form, the tongue will simply… fail.”

Rose frowned slightly. “That sounds rather like neural inhibition.”

“A reasonable analogy,” McGonagall replied.

Hermione’s sharp curiosity surged. “So the linguistic centre is intact, but the motor function is overridden?”

Campbell chuckled softly. “You really are very bright, young Hermione."

Hermione smiled, "I just enjoy learning."

"Yes, I'm aware of your academic achievements. A bachelor's degree from Cambridge when you were yet to turn thirteen. You'll be sorted into Ravenclaw, I think."

Ravenclaw Hermione had read all about the four Houses in Hogwarts : A History. Each had it's own philosophy, and traits that it valued in it's members. Gryffindor's penchant for bravery, Ravenclaw's for intelligence, Slytherin's for ambition and Hufflepuff's for loyalty. They all seemed appealing in one way or another.

They left the city’s hum behind. The Range Rover wound through green lanes until houses stood farther apart, the streets grew quieter as they stretched towards the tranquil suburb of Hadley Wood. At last McGonagall raised a gloved hand.

“Here.”

They stopped before a large, empty-looking house of pale stone. Curtains drawn, garden immaculate yet lifeless.

“The Fold lies just beyond the back boundary,” Campbell explained. “There are Muggle repelling charms places around it. If anyone without magical abilities approaches, they get confused or suddenly remember something they needed to do and turn away."

As they walked around the large house, Hermione saw a faint shimmer in the air.

"Is that the Fold?", she asked Campbell.

"Indeed", replied the Auror.

"What... I don't see anything.", Hugo said, confused.

"Neither can I!", said Rose.

"You wouldn't be able to Doctor Rose," Cyril explained, "only wizards and witches can see the Dimensional Folds. Further confirmation that your daughter is indeed a witch."

Hermione gave her parents a hesitant smile.

The air felt oddly dense, like the moment before lightning.

“Everyone take hands, please,” McGonagall instructed.

Hermione slid between her parents, Campbell and McGonagall flanked them. The professor’s fingers were cool and steady.

“Step forward,” she said.

And in the next moment, the Grangers stepped into the doorway between two worlds.

The cool sensation on their skin left as quickly as it had appeared, and they found themselves on a busy street lined on both with strange looking shops. Hermione didn't have time to gawk at them.

"From here, we shall apparate into the Ministry", McGonagall told them, "Please maintain a firm grip on each other's hands."

Hermione saw Auror Campbell begin to turn on his heel and the next thing she knew was the sensation of being constricted from all sides. She was sure she'd stopped breathing. Though she knew that apparating only lasted a second, probably a fraction of one, but to her it felt longer.

Hermione looked sideways at her parents and saw that they too were steadying themselves.

"Are you OK, sweetheart?", her father asked.

"I'm fine... I just..."

Hermione couldn't finish her reply as she realized where they were.

Ahead loomed an enormous marble atrium glittering with light - The Ministry of Magic.

Hermione’s first thought was that it resembled a cathedral built by physicists. Columns of quartz rose into a ceiling of floating glass panels, sunlight pouring through shifting charms. Witches and wizards hurried along polished floors; quills hovered beside them, writing on suspended sheets of parchment. Some robes shimmered like oil, others plain as uniforms. Some were dressed exactly like Auror Campbell. The air smelled faintly of ozone, and the indefinable scent of magic itself.

“Keep close,” Campbell murmured. “Crowded this time of day.”

Hermione walked as if in a trance, cataloguing everything - the unfamiliar attire, the symbols, runes, embossed on doorframes, the way voices echoed slightly too long.

They entered a lift of wrought iron that rose soundlessly through a shaft of light. At the fourth level, McGonagall led them out to a corridor lined with portraits that turned to look at them, causing Rose to gasp and Hugo and Hermione to crank their necks to stare at them. The nameplate on the large wooden door at the end of the corridor read 'Department of the Protection of Muggle-borns'.

The auror knocked and the door opened by itself. The office on its other side was rather modest, to put it kindly. The place was cramped and the furniture looked worn. Hermione counted seven officials working at individual desks. At the largest desk was a balding red haired man with a kind face, his smile warm enough to steady the nerves of anyone. He stood up when he saw them.

"Ah Professor! Auror Campbell!", he spoke in a jovial tone and approached to greet them, "I see you've brought the Grangers."

"Yes Arthur", replied McGonagall, before turning to the Grangers, "Please allow me to introduce Mr. Arthur Weasley. The Head of this department. His office, among other functions, serves as the point of contact between the Ministry and the parents of Muggle-borns children."

Turningback to the Head of the Department, she said, "Arthur, the Doctors Granger".

Mr Weasley's smile widened as he shook hands with Hermione’s parents.

"Very nice to meet both of you.", he said "I understand you are healers."

"Yes, Mr Weasley.", replied Rose, seemingly calmed by Arthur’s welcoming demeanour, "we specialise in diseases of the teeth, mouth and gums."

"I see... fascinating!", he said before noticing Hermione, "And this must be young Miss Granger."

Hermione didn't respond immediately, as she was busy gawking at an envelope that appeared to be talking to one of the other employees. Judging from the look on the witche's face, it didn't have anything kind to say.

"Hermione!" Her mother chided her gently, pulling Hermione out of her fascination.

"Pardon me", she said, a bit embarrassed, "How do you do, Sir!"

Arthur shook the hand she extended, his expression one of indulgence, "how do you do, young lady! We've heard great things about you."

"Do forgive us for gaping, Mr Weasley.", said Hugo, "it's just that this is our first time in your world."

"No problem at all..." Arthur said with a wave of the hand, "and please call me Arthur."

Next to them, Auror Campbell cleared his throat.

"I think we best get on with it."

"Right, of course." Arthur gestured for them to sit. “These are secrecy contracts. You’ve been briefed, I think?”

“We have,” Rose said, her tone professional. "Do we just sign our names?”

“Yes, Doctor. All three of you with sign your names on this document." He tapped a long piece of parchment with his wand, golden letters unfurled across the surface "I will also extract a tiny droplet of blood from each of you. You’ll feel a small tug as the contract seals. A bit like static before a storm.”

He gave the Grangers each a feather quill.

“The vow is mutual, you see. You agree not to expose our world, and we agree to extend protection and assistance to your child as and when she needs it."

Hugo exchanged a look with his wife, then nodded. Together they leaned over the documents and signed. Hermione did the same.

As the quills lifted, a faint glow traced the curves of their names. They gasped softly as they felt a prickle under the skin, a tightening of breath. Arthur murmured a spell and three crimson droplets rose from their fingertips, suspended in air, and sank into the parchment like wax into paper.

Professor McGonagall and Auror Campbell also signed their names as the official witnesses. The parchment glowed on final time, before the light faded.

“There,” Arthur said, satisfied. “All sealed.”

Hermione flexed her hand, astonished. “This document, it feels… alive.”

“It is, child" McGonagall said gently. “It is a magical contract. It recognizes intention.”

Hermione studied the parchments, the faint sheen that lingered on their surface. “So the spell is anchored in our blood? A biochemical conduit for magical enforcement?”

Arthur chuckled. “Something like that, though you might want to save your questions for the professors at Hogwarts.”

Campbell grinned at Arthur “Definitely a Ravenclaw."

“As the legal formalities are complete,” he said, smiling at the Grangers. “from this point forward, the Department’s protection extends to you Miss Granger. Congratulations. You are now, officially, part of our world.”

Hermione’s heart leapt at the phrasing, though her parents only nodded, still processing the unreality of a parchment that drank their blood and ink that glowed with its own mind.

Professor McGonagall straightened her cloak. “Thank you, Arthur. Doctors Grangers, you have been most cooperative. My duties end here, I believe.”

“Mine as well,” said Auror Campbell.

The Auror rose from where he’d been leaning against the wall, easy grace hiding the readiness beneath. “It’s been a pleasure, Doctor and Doctor Granger. Miss Hermione, all the best.”

"Thank you sir." Hermione said, getting to her feet, "And thank you Professor McGonagall. For the books.... for everything."

Rose and Hugo too were on their feet, as they thanked McGonagall and Campbell profusely for their assistance. The gratitude was accepted with both humility and professionalism, before the auror and the professor exited.

Arthur turned toward the door and gestured for them to follow. “Right then. One last introduction before we send you on your way.”

A slender woman, probably in her late twenties entered.

"Now, this is First Secretary Andrea Bones. She will be your escort to Gringotts Bank, and from there she will take you to Diagon Alley so you may purchase all the necessary school supplies. Once you’ve completed your purchases, she’ll guide you through the Dimensional Fold back to the non-magical side.”

The young witch smiled politely at the Grangers.

"Andrea, these are Doctors Hugo and Rose Granger, and their daughter Hermione — our newest Hogwarts enrolment.”

Andrea offered her hand with a brisk, confident smile. “A pleasure, Mr. and Mrs. Granger. Miss Granger."

The Grangers returned her greeting. Hermione wondered if her mother would be indignant at being addressed as "Mrs". She looked at Rose and saw not a hint of annoyance, only wonder and awe.

"Well, I wish you all the best Miss Granger. A brilliant girl like you will achieve great things at Hogwarts."

"I intend to, sir", Hermione replied with her usual confidence and surety.

“I don’t doubt it,” Arthur said fondly.

Arthur extended his hand to Hugo, then Rose. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you both. And thank you for your patience. This first step is always the strangest.”

Rose smiled, tension easing from her shoulders. “You’ve been very kind, Mr. Weasley. Thank you for… making it less frightening.”

Arthur’s smile warmed, genuine and a little paternal. “That’s the goal, Mrs. Granger. We forget, sometimes, how strange our world must seem to newcomers.”

Andrea led them toward the lift. As the doors slid open with a quiet sigh. As the lift rose, the hum of magic deepened, resonant and alive. Rose reached for her daughter’s hand. Hugo stood quietly on her other side, still half-stunned by the surreal grace of the place.

Hermione watched the floors slide past — Departments of Magical Transport, Creature Regulation, Mysteries — each name like a promise that the world was far wider than she’d ever imagined.