The Great Rite of Old

Summary: Hermione is excited to receive her letter from Hogwarts. Finally, something explaining what she and her parents have known for years, but is it so simple? Her past is more precarious a secret than anyone could ever imagine, and the darkness buried in her bloodline isn't kept easily from spying eyes. "Welcome to Hogwarts...Miss. Granger."

Pairing: Possible Blaise/Hermione – Theo/Hermione (opinions welcomed as I've never written or read either.) Yes, Blaise/Hermione/Theo is also possible. Let's age her a bit before making a choice, though.

A/N: Thankful to my reviewers for taking the time to review! I will work hard to make this story a different worthwhile read.

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"Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose."
- Zora Neale Hurston

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Yr. 1991

-12 August-

The resounding snap of a large and slightly weighted leather-bound book shutting shocked John into looking away from his newspaper. The headline of the Daily Express read in bold letters Diana's Secret Summit, a topic, perhaps, his wife may find interesting, he, not so much. "Something wrong, little witch?"

"In Hogwarts, A History, it only barely touches on the Founders of Hogwarts. Though, they highlighted how Salazar left when the four of them couldn't agree on the students admitted into Hogwarts. Its writer is notably biased, and you can read it in her depiction of the House Founder."

"What about that other book you got on the topic?" Shifting through the stack of books beside him, he lifted one, "The Founders Four,"

Hermione reached out and took it from her father. Her eyes were taking in the wear and tear of the old leather-bound book. Its golden umber toned pages were so old and fragile, the idea that they might if she applied too much pressure was a lingering thought. Careful, she opened the book and shifted forward past a couple of blank pages and the title page. Eyeing what passed as an authors' note, it was so old it hardly called for her attention. Still, diligent as she was, she read the note then turned to the first page. A uniquely drawn up vision of the lives of the four founders before they founded Hogwarts, was eloquently defined on the archaic parchment. Every turn of the page told her more about the founders than the mandatory Hogwarts, A History, would have her know.

The passing minutes strayed quickly into hours before Olivia sauntered into the kitchen to find both her husband and daughter deeply enthralled in the old text. Both were leaning over the book, reading and pointing out tidbits of information here and there.

"Liv, there you are darling,"

"Me? John Dear, I thought you dead. You were supposed to join me on a conference call two hours ago."

"I was, wasn't I." John stretched his arms over his shoulders as he stood, placing his hand atop his daughter's head before walking over to his wife. "Forgive and forget?"

"Hardly," she smiled up at him, "what had you so distracted?"

He pointed back over his shoulder, "Hermione is studying up on the History of the founders of Hogwarts. We were reading about the Alchemist and Potions Magister, Salazar Slytherin. Before he was one of the founding fathers, he delved in tonics and remedies. Though practicing Dark Arts in secret, he tended to both magical and muggle folk."

"Dark Arts?"

"It's a type of magic, mum," Hermione turned the page of the book in front of her, "it says that, during the witch burnings, he had decided that magic in the hands of muggle-born witches and wizards would be too dangerous."

Olivia nodded, "I could imagine. In those days, if there were even whispers of witchcraft, one would be burned at the stake." Stepping up to the dining room table, she lifted the newspaper with a frown, "a scandal? With Princess Diana? What rubbish!" Despite her strong feelings for the frontpage article, she settled into the seat John had earlier occupied before devouring every word that had been printed.

Hermione and her father shared a look of amusement as they had both lost Olivia's interest in a matter of seconds.

'Salazar Slytherin first met Godric Gryffindor during their youth. An up and coming knight and hero among his village. With a great many things, neither could be seen to agree with one another. However, both young men saw that logic was panics prey, and there was an abundance of panic to go around. Forging a magical Wizards in Arms bond, they set out to build a sanctuary for those who showed to have similar talents with magic.' Hermione shook her head, "in here they are depicted much like friends, brothers even."

"In literature and history, we see how division born of diversity, opinion, and belief can cause even the most patient of siblings to turn against one another," Olivia said, half paying attention, half absorbed in the article she was still reading.

Not that her mother didn't make a valid point. Hermione, at the top of her head, could list at least ten examples of siblings betraying one another. Greek Mythology, Medea killed her brother Apsyrtus to help Jason escape Colchis after he'd obtained the Golden Fleece. The blind God Höðr, in Nordic Mythology, was manipulated by Loki into killing his brother Baldur. Cain and Able! She didn't even need to delve into detail on the notoriously told biblical tale. Not really planning to go through every story she knew by heart, she did find distinct similarities in one. Roman Mythology had the tale of Romulus and Remus, twin brothers who founded the City of Rome, either before or after, Romulus killed Remus.

The funny thing about Myths, there was always a different way to spin the tale. What is certain, is that Remus and Romulus disputed the hill on which to place this new City, the verdict decided by auspiciously envisioned birds. The question concerning truth or deceit was whether Romulus killed his brother, if he was killed by Celer (Romulus's worker), or simply left the City to live out the remainder of his life in peace. Hermione stared at the old script in wonder. Which truth lay buried in these pages? Or was the truth even there? Would she find that Salazar was Remus and Godric was Romulus? Did they, too, have a falling out? A disagreement that shattered their bonds of friendship and brotherhood? And if so, what came of their dispute? Would this tale end in bloodshed and tears, the was so many Myths and tales before it had, or was there more to it?

"Hermione, it's getting late. Shower and get ready for bed."

Standing, Hermione closed and tucked the book under her arm.

"Ah uh," without even raising her eyes from the paper, Olivia snapped her fingers and pointed at the table, "leave the book."

Ignoring the subtle chuckle from her father, Hermione begrudgingly sat the book down on the table and marched off to her room upstairs.

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Yr. 1991

-31 August-

It wasn't normal for a Saturday to be so busy in the Granger household. When Olivia woke early that morning, she'd expected her normal daily ritual to continue at least until after breakfast. Far be it for her daughter to agree to those terms. No, no. Hermione was not only up and dressed; she was in the middle of plugging in the hair straightener. Olivia shook her head as she pulled herself from the daze that waking often left her in. "Love, what are you doing?"

"I want to straighten my hair,"

"No,"

Hermione frowned, "just a little, mum!"

"No, and I'm not discussing this any further with you." She brought a hand to her daughter's unruly curls, "you have such beautiful hair, why would you ever want to ruin it?"

"It's an untamed rats' nest,"

Olivia smiled at the sneer of distaste on Hermione's face, though she still took the straightener from her daughter and unplugged it. "Finish brushing your hair and teeth, and I'll get breakfast started. Have you got your trunk and carryon together?"

"They are downstairs,"

Pulling her robe tighter around her, Olivia stifled another yawn as she watched her little girl fight with her hair. "What about Aero?"

Referring to the Owl that Hermione had bought during her first trip to Diagon Alley, she watched her nod, wincing as she yanked at the brush in her hair. "Downstairs," Hermione forced through clenched teeth.

Taking pity on her child, she took the brush from the tight vice-like grip, "don't, you'll pull your hair out."

"Maybe if I pull it all out, it'll grow back straight."

"Afraid it doesn't work that way, love. Now," she fixed Hermione's hair up into a wild ponytail, the curls flaring out dauntingly as she left a couple of untamable tendrils to frame her face. "Will this work?"

Hermione turned her head from side to side before smiling and nodding, "it'll work perfectly!"

"Good, now brush your teeth!"

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"Are you sure this is right?" John eyed the stone wall with uncertainty. Platforms nine and ten on either side, the lingering instructions of running directly into a wall were circulating his mind in loops. "Perhaps we should wait and see if someone else runs into it."

Olivia frowned at the way her husband had just worded that. "Dear, I don't think so."

"Mum, Dad, Professor McGonagall explained it in detail. We're here, let's go!" Pulling on her fathers' hand, she smiled when he shook his head before running headfirst into the wall with her trolly. Olivia and Hermione watched as he disappeared through the wall, both smiling before taking off in a run after him. The view on the other side was magnificent, magickal, and breathtakingly inspired.

"Oh, blimey!" Hermione gawked, the tube, a bright crimson red. On the Express door, the number 5972, underneath read King's Cross Station. She looked the length over, and further down was the train's name in larger scrawl, Hogwarts Express.

"Hermione, look," John pointed to the words on the door, and they watched them change. "Hogwarts Castle," he nodded his thanks to a young man who took the trolly from him, handing the own over, he watched as it was pushed off to the luggage cart. "Looks like they're about to leave."

Hermione was pulled into a tight hug by her mother, "write to us when you get there?"

Smiling, she nodded, "of course,"

"Hermione!"

Whipping around, Hermione smiled as her first friend waved from a window on the train. Lifting a hand, she smiled and turned to her dad. "That's Draco," she gave him a tight hug, "it'll go by before you know it." She reassured her parents, both giving into a chortle of humor.

"Run along; you've got an odyssey before you." John stepped away from his daughter and took Olivia's hand in his as she leaned against him. Watching his daughter as she started towards the train in a run, she stopped at the train door and looked back at them. Raising her hands over her head as she waved her farewell, finally boarding the train. The parents stayed and watched until the Hogwarts Express pulled out of the King's Cross station. Departing through the wall, the same way they'd entered.

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"―and of course, I had to fight my father tooth and nail, but he finally relented."

Hermione laughed as she looked at the book in her hands over. "You're sure I can borrow it?"

"So long as you don't damage it, sure. My father was pretty convincing when he said he'd have my wand snapped if it came back in any other condition than what he gave it to me in." Draco nodded his head a bit to his left, "we're in here. Harry stayed to hold the compartment." Sliding the door open, he let Hermione enter first before following after her. Taking a seat across from her, he watched as she sat her bag down beside her and opened the book. "You don't have to read it now, do you?"

"I'm really curious about how Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor are depicted in this retelling. I read a curious one that placed them in an era of witch burnings, where they formed a Wizards Bond of Brotherhood. The actual name was, a Wizards in Arms Bond."

Draco frowned, "yeah, I read something similar in this one. Hogwarts, A History, doesn't talk any about it."

"No," she sneered, "it doesn't. It doesn't mention how they met or anything about their past. Only their achievements and how they supposedly had a falling out because of different views."

Harry shook his head and laughed, "you're really into the History of Hogwarts, aren't you. Is History your favorite subject, then?"

"I don't have a favorite; I like learning. Studying relaxes me. Knowing things, um, I don't know how to explain it." Suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious, Hermione closed the book and tapped it uncertainly. "I don't like looking senseless. If I study, I can avoid being made a fool."

"The opinions of others matter so much?"

"No, I wouldn't say they matter. However, if you are smart, you stay off the teachers' radar, and usually, no one suspects you to be responsible for troublemaking. I'd like to keep to myself if at all possible. Friends are fine, but no trouble, please."

"I'm good with that."

The door suddenly opened, "anything off the trolly dears?"

Draco glanced at the trolly and grinned, "two cauldron cakes,"

Watching the exchange of coin and sweet, Hermione eyed the quills curiously before shaking her head. "I don't eat sweets, thank you."

The woman smiled and turned her attention to Harry, "and you dearie?"

"Mn," he pointed out a couple of items curiously and paid for them, thank the woman with a hesitant smile. "I've never eaten anything like these. Chocolate Frogs, are they real?"

Squeamish at the thought of a real frog being dipped in chocolate, the thought only served to solidify her 'no sweets' policy.

"Dear Merlin, no! It's just a spell, Harry." Draco laughed, "that would ghastly."

'Ghastly indeed.'

It was hardly ten minutes later when the compartment door opened once more to reveal a nervous-looking boy around their age. Hermione caught his eyes, "can we help you?" Not trying to sound rude, she just wanted to get back to the story that Draco was regaling them. Having never seen a Quidditch match, hearing about the Quidditch World Cup that his father had taken him to last year was notably more interesting than talking about frogs.

"E-excuse me; I'm looking for my pet toad, Trevor. Have you seen him?"

Closing her eyes at the mention of another amphibian, this elicited a soft chuckle from her two friends as Harry answered for them.

"Fraid not, sorry, mate."

The boy sighed, "thanks anyway," he said before shutting the door and returning to his search.

"Who brings a toad to school as a pet?" Shaking his head, he leaned back, "I don't even remember what I was saying."

"You were talking about the Quidditch World Cup last year,"

"Right! We camped out for five days during the finals! It was such a long match, but ultimately Scotland lost a rather bitter defeat to Canada. I can't wait for the next one!"

"When is the next one?" Harry asked. He wondered if he could manage to sneak away from his family to watch it, if it might be on the telly, well, no, that sounded silly even to him.

"In 1994, if I'm doing my math right. It's every four years. Are you two going to try out for the Quidditch team? I am. Father says I'll make a perfect Seeker."

"I think it'd be more interesting to watch. I might have an aversion to flying,"

Harry didn't look convinced, "flying or falling?"

"Both," she sneered.

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Draco and Harry stepped out into the hall while Hermione changed. It was dark outside, and they'd been informed by one of the Prefects that they were close to Hogwarts. Their arrival time was about ten minutes now. Each was growing more excited with every minute. When they heard Hermione call out in excitement, the two rushed in to see her leaning towards the window and pointing. "Look!"

Draco and Harry moved in closer to her and stared out the window, eyes widening as they got their first glimpse of the school in the distance.

"Magickal." She whispered more to herself. Grinning ear to ear, she couldn't help the burst of excitement that gave in. The light above them brightened immeasurably before dimming. "Oops," she blushed as she glanced at the light above them.

"Fits of accidental magic?" Draco laughed, "it happens. I set my bed sheets on fire once when I was a tot. Mum nearly had a fit. It sent our house elf into a frenzy. Every time he'd put it out, I would set it on fire again."

Nodding, Hermione waited for more, but when he said nothing, she followed up with a question. "Okay, but why did you set your sheets on fire?"

"I was upset. I can't remember what exactly had me so mad, but I was a true horror that day."

"I made the glass at the zoo disappear and set a python on my cousin Dudley once."

That was a whole different topic, as Draco made a face of surprise as the doors all opened magically. "When it's just the three of us, you need to tell me more."

Harry smiled and gave a small nod.

"Draco!"

"Ah, Harry, Hermione, this is Goyle and Crabbe. Where were you two?"

"We were sitting in with Parkinson and Nott,"

"Sounds like a quiet compartment."

Both boys gave him a nod, though neither elaborated. They didn't need to as not far behind them, a girl and boy their age stepped out of the compartment, giving nasty looks at one another for whatever reason.

"Watch it, Parkinson! I'd like to think you're at least educated in the art of walking in a straight line." Nott pushed past the girl with a short black bob.

"Say, Draco, they're your friends too, shouldn't you―"

Draco raised a hand and cut Harry off, "no, and no. I mean, yes, technically they are my friends, but there is so much bad blood between those two, I'd rather not get involved, ever, if possible." He put both his hands on Harry's shoulders and started guiding him off the train and after the two irritable eleven-year-olds. Hermione following quietly behind. She took in her surroundings, eyes moving from one student to another. Hermione saw a red-haired boy walking with his head down, a look of nervous trepidation in his eyes. She pitied him. It didn't look like he had anyone with him, and being new and alone seemed horrible. She knew it would be. That's why she'd played her cards in the robe shop. It was best to have someone then no one.

"Hermione?"

She turned to see Draco and Harry looking back at her, "huh?"

"You coming?"

A line was starting to form behind her. Eyes widening, she rushed forward off the train and apologized to the girl behind her. An older student who just laughed it off. The red and gold tie told her that she was a Gryffindor. Pulling the bag from over her shoulder before making way to the luggage, she placed it down and sighed. 'Off to a great start, Hermione. Let's try not to stand out anymore.'

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Me: Here is chapter three, hope you all enjoy~! Let me know your thoughts, and I'll update again soon.