Okay...first off I want to apologize for the long wait for this chapter. I know it seemed like I abandoned this story or I forgot about it, but that is not the case. I DID NOT REALIZE I HAVEN'T UPDATED THIS STORY IN 3 YEARS! Would you believe me if I told you I started this chapter immediately after I posted Chapter 5 and just never completed it? Time really went by EXTREMELY fast in college.

Anywho...I went back and reread all the previous chapters (honestly because I forgot a lot of what I wrote and alluded to for future chapters) and I was CRINGING SO HARD! My writing from 3-5 years ago was so different and immature back then it's hard to read through. I'm still learning new techniques now, but I've come a long way. (you can probably tell what part of this chapter I began three years ago based on the writing differences in this alone. But I'm satisfied enough with it that I will post it anyway). SO, after I post this chapter and BEFORE I post the next chapters, I am going to take chapters 1-5 and REWRITE THEM! I just-I can't-

Sorry not sorry. So that does mean there will be a delay (oopsie) for the upcoming chapters HOWEVER all of the upcoming chapters following Harry, Hermione, Draco, and the gang through school years 1-4 have been outlined and just need to be typed up and fleshed out. So, I promise there will NOT be another THREE YEAR DELAY! I SWEAR!

That's it. That's the end of my rant. Continue on as usual.

1990

Malfoy Manor

It would not have been hard to ignore Pansy Parkinson's comments. It really wouldn't have been, Hermione swears. She's gotten pretty good at it over the years due to the fact that the skinny, brown-haired girl fancied herself in love with her cousin and insisted on being present whenever she had the chance. But Hermione was getting close to her wit's end and the night had only just begun.

Hermione clenched her hands tightly around the cup in her grasp and took a harsh gulp of the last of the liquid inside. Those standing near her gave her a wary glance, surreptitiously taking steps away from the impending explosion that was inevitable.

If it wasn't for the fact that Draco would have thrown a hissy fit about her not showing up for his tenth birthday party, she would be at home right now reading some book or floo-calling Harry.

But alas, she was here. Dressed in this outlandish gown Narcissa forced her into, with a ton of magic interweaved in her hair to tame it into place. She fidgeted in the shoes that Narcissa also roped her into wearing that added a little bit of height to her five feet that kept her gown from dragging on the floor behind her.

"Breathe, Mimi. Just ignore her." Harry whispered to her. He was the only one who stood that close despite the look on her face that gave away the fury she felt.

"She's talking about my family," Hermione spat through clenched teeth.

It was no secret amongst the guests in attendance that the Black family was well known for many things. Their madness, obsession with blood purity, their rage, and that the black sheep, Sirius, was blasted to pieces off of the family tree. All of the purebloods, and the occasional half-blood, in the Manor knew, but did not dare to speak of it. Mostly because said man was standing near Mrs. Malfoy, engaging in conversation.

"She's just jealous, Mione. She looks like a hag in that poofy dress and you look amazing." Blaise Zabini shrugged.

Hermione rolled her eyes and fought off the blush that was threatening to break to the surface. Zabini, at only ten years old, was a major flirt. He kissed a girl last summer, no tongue of course, and he's convinced himself that he is a man now.

"Shut up, Zabini." Hermione never shifted her glare from twittering girl at the next table.

"As annoying as he is," Draco's eyes swept over the dark-skinned Italian boy and back to his cousin, "he's got a point. You know she's just jealous of you. Ignore her. Besides, it's not like she's not saying anything others aren't thinking."

Which he had a point, Hermione conceded.

Hermione sighed, and reached for another glass of butterbeer from the house elf that walked past with a tray. "She just really gets under my skin."

"She gets under everyone's skin," Neville snorted. "My grandmother said that her own mother can barely stand her sometimes."

And the group laughed together, drawing attention to themselves.

"Speaking of mothers, yours is headed this way," Zabini nodded towards the approaching Narcissa with another tall woman in tow. She was slender with strawberry blonde hair and thin lips. Her eyes were proportional on her face and her nose was thin. There wasn't a laugh line in sight.

Draco grumbled, "Great."

"What are you five doing just standing around? You need to be mingling with your future classmates. Some of you in particular," she looked to Draco and Blaise, "seeing as they will be your housemates as well."

"Mother, I have already talked to most of them and they can barely string two sentences together." Draco moaned, but Narcissa shut him up with a look.

"I do not care. While some of them leave much to be desired," her eyes swept around the room and lips turned up unpleasantly, "they will still be your peers. And it is never too soon to make a good first impression. Now you two run a long. And Mr. Longbottom, your mother is looking for you."

She shooed the three boys away and looked at Hermione and Harry. They were rarely ever not together. They had been that way ever since Narcissa can remember. Wherever one went, so did the other. Which is why she knew what she was about to say was not going to be taken easily.

"Hermione, Harry, this is Nerida Vulchanova. She wants to meet you, Hermione."

"Me?" Hermione asked, sharing a bewildered look with Harry before shaking hands with the stern looking woman.

"I hear great things about you, Ms. Black," she spoke in a thick Bulgarian accent.

"Harry dear, why don't you come with me. I have yet to see you visit the dance floor. Perhaps I can occupy your time a little." Narcissa interjects, ignoring the look of complete horror blanketing Harry's face.

Hermione would have giggled if not for the fact that she was alone with this strange woman who was staring a bit too intently at her. This woman made her tense. She felt as though she should be wearing something a little less childish and that her back should be straighter, and her nose, perhaps stuck in the air.

"Your father and Narcissa told me that you are an elemental."

Hermione gaped at the woman speaking in hushed tones with her. Her father, although he could be a very large child-man, was very serious when it came to Hermione's 'special-ness' as he likes to call it. He always warned her about revealing her gifts to others that were not in their small circle. A circle that did not stretch beyond them two, the Potters, Remus, and recently Narcissa Malfoy.

Narcissa did her research and discovered the word for her 'special-ness' and came upon some old files in the Malfoys' library and found the term elemental. As a group of rare Magiks, they can harness nature's most natural elements and manipulate them at will. They were hunted down for the better part of the fifteenth century. It was one of the only times in Magical history in which Magiks hunted other Magiks.

"Do not 'vorry child. I am one as 'vell. Perhaps, you 'vould like to accompany me to the gardens?" She graciously swept past her and walked towards Narcissa's garden outside of the ballroom. Hermione followed, not knowing what else to do.

They stopped near the rose bushes and sat down on the bench.

"I should tell you that I am also the headmaster of Durmstrang. My thrice great-grandmother founded the school and I shall like to offer you a position to attend." She raised a hand before Hermione could speak. "I know you have questions, child, but allow me to speak first."

Hermione slowly nodded.

"My, how you say..antecedent, was murdered shortly after founding the school by her once-close friend. He did not want a priroda, or elemental, running the school and killed her. My family, fearing an attack, did not pursue revenge. You see, my family passes down the gift to influence nature's gifts from mother to daughter. It runs in my blood. My grandmother lived in fear of others finding out about our secret her whole life and passing it down, but my mother used that fear as motivation.

"I shall not bore you 'vith the details, but the murder of prirodas became outlawed 'ven I was a young girl. My mother, although not one for teaching, became an advocate for our kind and soon Durmstrang became a sanctuary for young prirodas to practice their gifts 'vithout fear of punishment from the close-minded few. Recently I reclaimed my rightful seat as Headmistress of Durmstrang and I plan to institute a few changes. Starting 'vith the population. I 'vould like to make Durmstrang a school for both 'vizards and 'vitches. And I believe that you 'vould make the best candidate for the job."

She looked to Hermione, giving her a chance to speak since she first began.

"M-me? Why me?"

And for the first time since Hermione saw this woman, her face seemed to soften a bit, taing on the mirage of someone staring at a lost puppy.

"Narcissa speaks very highly of you. And while I know your family has always gone to Hogwarts and many expect that route for you as well, your gift 'vould simply not be cultivated the same there. If not tended to properly," she turned to the rose bush beside her and tenderly stroked the nearest flower, "it 'vould perish."

Hermione was shocked, and if honest a little scared. "I would lose my powers?"

The beautifully stern woman nodded gravely.

Hermione looked down at her hands, quiet. She thought about a life without her powers and her heart tightened. Her powers were...her. They have always been a part of her, even as a young child. And to lose them would mean losing a huge piece of herself.

On the other hand, Hogwarts was like a right of passage to most of the Witches and Wizards she's been surrounded by her entire life. And while her Papa was never one to relish in his family's traditions, going to Hogwarts was a huge accomplishment of his. He made it no secret that he couldn't wait until she and Harry would revive the Marauders and pull off pranks that would outdo theirs.

Harry….

"Think about it, child. You do not have to give me an answer immediately. But your first term 'vill be here before you know it." She said before walking away and leaving Hermione to herself in the darkness encasing the gardens.

Hermione sat on the tire swing Sirius built for her when she was younger and they first moved into their own house away from the Potters.

She clenched her fist around the thick rope that hung from the branch above her, and a wind that hadn't been there before, blew strong, pushing her in the swing. She didn't know how long she sat there, just thinking about that Vulchanova woman before the sliding door to the house opened.

Looking up she saw her favorite person in the world.

"Hey, Padfoot told me you were back here. Should've guessed that you would be." He kicked at a pebble and stood in the doorway of the sliding doors. "You usually come here when you're thinking hard about something."

She couldn't prevent her eyes from rolling at the smug grin on his face that just screamed 'I know you so well'.

"It's nothing." Hermione shrugged.

He scoffed. "Oh now I know it's huge. Come on, spill. You know you'll tell me eventually anyway."

Hermione couldn't help the smile that pulled at her lips. She did tell Harry everything. He's always been the first person she told, if not, he was always there when something happened and she didn't need to tell him. And the thought of him-maybe-not being with her when she went away to school, made that smile drop.

She sighed and looked down at her hand, tugging the large hoodie over her fists.

"You remember the woman at the Drake's party, the one that Narcissa introduced us to?" Her voice small.

Hermione didn't hear anything so she assumed he nodded.

"Well she...she knows about my-you know, extra gifts. And apparently, she's just like me. Or, rather, similar to me. She can only manipulate air and water, whereas I can do all of the éléments. And she wants to teach me how to control them."

Hermione felt Harry shift beside her. "Well that's great, right? I mean, you've always wanted to be able to really control them."

Hermione turned her head up to face and watched his face as she told him the rest. "For her to fully teach me, in a safe environment, I would have to go to school- her school, where she's Headmistress. There's a lot of others with similar abilities that go there as well."

Harry's large smile slowly slipped off his face. "Why am I getting the feeling that you're not talking about Hogwarts?"

Hermione looked down at her hands. "It's Durmstrang, Harry." She said so low he almost missed it.

"Durmstrang!" Harry shouted."But-Hogwarts! We had a plan for Hogwarts. We promised to rule the school like our parents did!"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "They did not rule the school, and you know it."

Harry stuttered. "Well, they could've! If they knew ahead of time to plan for it. Like we do! You-you can't." The air and frustration that he displayed so easily seemed to leave him just as quickly as it came. His shoulders slumped over and sighed. "But you can. And you should. I shouldn't be so selfish, I guess. This will be good for you. Hogwarts can't help you with your gifts the way Durmstrang can, I guess."

"But what about us, Harry? It's always been you and me, together. If I go to Durmstrang, it'll be the longest we've ever been separated since we were born." Hermione added pitifully. "Not to mention, what would you do with yourself? Hm? I help keep you on track with classes. I find your glasses for you whenever you lose them. I'm always the voice of reason whenever you and Drake get into it." She rolled her eyes at the last one.

For as long as she could remember, Draco and Harry always seemed to have a Hot/Cold relationship. When they were hot, they were as thick as thieves, almost as close as Harry and she were. But when they ran cold, boy did they really test her patience. Whatever it was that started the argument, always circled back to her and she was put in the middle of it. Harry would give her his smile and act as though nothing is happening, while trying to use her time up so that she couldn't spend it with Draco. While Draco, on the other hand, used her soft spot for him to his advantage. He'd play up the pity, and would whine until Hermione felt guilty about spending most of her time with Harry instead of Draco, her actual relative.

Harry chuckled. "Drake and I will be fine. He'll be in Slytherin and I'll be in Gryffindor, no doubt, so it's not like we'll be forced to be around each other all the time. And Remus told me that Gryffindor and Slytherin always have DADA and Potions together. Mom taught me that Accio spell now, so I can get my own glasses when I lose them."

Hermione started, "But-"

Harry laughed, "Are you trying to convince me to not be upset about you leaving or not? I know you know that this will be good for you. Even if we don't get to rule Hogwarts like we planned together, it doesn't mean that we can't rule our respective schools separately." Harry's eyes lightened up the way they always did when he got excited.

"Think about it! It'll be me, Drake, Drake's serpent friends, Neville, and maybe a couple of the Weasleys all at Hogwarts. I can get an ally out of all of them, and we'll rule the school. And you'll-"

"-be the first girl ever admitted to Durmstrang."

"Exactly! You'll set a reputation that no one ever had before. I doubt it'll be very hard for you to get away with a lot of things because you'll be the only girl. Neville's always complaining about how Judy gets away with murder because his dad falls for the puppy eyes routine. And everyone knows your puppy eyes are legendary."

Hermione laughed along with Harry this time. Hermione shrugged, "I am really good at that."

"Really good?" Harry scoffed. "When you lost Dad's first tournament-winning quaffle ball, your puppy eyes worked so well he took us out for ice cream and sent an owl to the Quidditch League for not putting a charm on their Quaffles that make them return to their owner. You're the best at 'em"

Hermione laughed remembering that day very well. "In my defense, it was kind of dumb for them not to already have that charm anyway. Just imagine how often they lose quaffles, bludgers, and snitches!"

Harry consented to that point. "Yeah, but if I had done it, it would've been a completely different story." He shrugged. "Seriously, Mimi. I think you should go to Durmstrang. We'll still have every holiday and it's not like us going to different schools will change anything. You'll always be my best friend." He bumped her shoulder making her smile.

She looked at him and smiled. "You're right. I'm freaking out over nothing.

"Durmstrang?! Why in Merlin do you think it would be a good idea to go there?"

Harry and Hermione gave each other a look at Draco's outburst. He stood in front of his vanity pacing while they both lounged on his emerald chaise.

"Besides the fact that it's filled with nothing but bumbling idiot boys who speak who knows what, you'll be the only girl. Can you imagine that? I mean, if you think Zabini is bad, wait until you meet a bunch of older boys. You're my cousin, good looking genes run through our blood. You'll be irresistible. You're supposed to go to Hogwarts so that Harry and I can look out for you!" He pointed at Hermione and smoothed back a stay blonde piece of hair that fell out of place."

Harry turned to Hermione with a worried expression. "I didn't think about that. Dray actually made a good point."

Hermione huffed. "Oh please. Madame Vulchanova already assured Papa and I that I will have separate living quarters from everyone else. She told me I could use the floo connected to her office so I can contact Papa in case of an emergency. And she's sending out letters to the students and their parents letting them know that I'll be the first female student. The hope is that if my year goes well, the school will be officially co-ed."

Draco rolled his light-colored eyes, "And if it doesn't go well?"

"Well then she promised to still give me tutoring lessons for my abilities." Hermione shrugged.

Draco crossed his arms. "I don't like this Hermione."

Hermione smirked, "I know you don't. But I've already told Papa to tell Madame Vulchanova that I want to attend. It's pretty much a done deal at this point Drake, so there's nothing you can do about it."

"I just can't believe cousin Sirius is letting you go."

Hermione smirked at him. "You know, it was your mom's idea to introduce me to Madame V."

Draco huffed and crossed his arms. "That woman is impossible. It's a wonder how I turned out as well as I did."

"I don't want her to go Prongs!" Sirius ran his hands through his dark tresses anxiously as he paced back and forth in the Potter's living room dramatically.

James groaned. "Then why did you say she could go?"

Remus did not look up from his book. "He's got a point Padfoot."

Sirius threw his hands up exhausted. "I know he's got a point, Moony! I don't need you to tell me that."

Remus looked up briefly to give Sirius a look, "So what do you want us to tell you?"

"I want you to tell me that I shouldn't be freaking out about letting my little devil go to Durmstrang. I want you to tell me I should call up that uptight headmistress and withdraw Hermione from enrollment."

Remus deadpanned, "You shouldn't do any of those things Pads. Hermione will resent you and you'll only regret it."

Sirius nodded and stopped pacing.

James sat up and looked uneasy, "Well…"

Sirius' head jerked in James' direction. "Well? Well what? Well what?!"

"I just…" James began. "I can see why you're considering withdrawing her. I mean, think about Sirius. This is Hermione. Your little girl. Our," James gestured to all of them, "little girl. She's tiny and sweet, and she'll be all by herself at an all boys school. An all boy school, might I add, that's in a secret location in Eastern Europe. If something happens, or she wants to come home, how are we going to get her?"

Sirius looked sick, "Oh god…" Sirius plopped down on the arm of the chair.

Remus sighed and placed his bookmark in the section of the book before putting it to the side. "Okay, okay relax. I get the trepidation. But Madame Vulchanova assured all of us that Hermione would not be put in any harm's way. She has private dorms, so the only interaction she'll have with the male students is during lessons and lunch, she has access to Vulchanova's personal floo, the other professors will be keeping an eye out on her development, and she's a Black. Nobody wants to risk the wrath of the Blacks coming down on their line if something were to happen to her."

"And the Potters," James conceded with a thoughtful look.

"And me. And The Malfoys, and everyone else who loves Hermione. She has a strong team behind her." Remus added before picking up his book again.

"But what if-"

Remus cut Sirius off before he could say more, "No. You'll drive yourself crazy thinking about all the what-ifs."

Sirius deflated and sunk down onto the sofa seat.

James patted Sirius on the back comfortingly. "As annoyingly-sensible as our dear friend Moony-kins is, he makes a good point."

Sirius wiggled around until he could throw his head onto James lap and look up at him pathetically. "Would you send Harry there if you could?"

James scoffed. "Oh no! No way, it would drive me spare thinking about how far away Harry would be. He's my only kid, you know? Merlin forbid something happens, it's not as if we have a spare." James chuckled, oblivious to the look of horror on Sirius' face.

Before everyone knew it, spring had passed, and Summer had come and gone. Harry's birthday was a much quieter affair spent with just his parents, Remus, Sirius, Hermione, and Draco. Hermione, Harry, and Draco spent a lot of their time at the pond in the gardens behind Godric's Hollow. James installed a lily pond as a wedding gift for Lily. Lily didn't have the heart to tell him that her favorite flowers weren't actually water lilies.

Hermione lazily twirled her hand making small water tornadoes. "I can't believe we start school tomorrow. I've thought of attending school with you guys since I was like, three. Dreams about what it would be like for the three of us to be at Hogwarts together."

Harry sat up, propping his head on his hand. "It's gonna be weird, for sure, but we're going to talk to each other like everyday through our mirrors, and we'll write all the time."

Draco sat on a large rock near the pond because it didn't want to get grass stains on his pants. Even with magic, grass stains were devils to get out of clothes. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't go getting new best friends while you're over there, Black. I've heard those Durmstrang guys are bumbling fools."

Hermione rolled her eyes at Draco's obvious jealousy. "I'm not going there to make new best friends, Dray. You and Harry will always hold that spot. Besides, I'm only going there to learn to control my elemental magic. The only Durmstrang guy I'll probably actually talk to is my Big Brother."

Harry and Draco looked up at her confused. Harry frowned and traded glances with Draco front his perch on the rock. "Big Brother?" He asked for the both of them.

Hermione, oblivious to the internal turmoil going on in the two boys, replied back lazily. "All Durmstrang first-years get paired with a Big Brother, a fourth year student who acts as a mentor and friend to ease the transition into schooling. The idea is that your Big Brother is supposed to be your go-to guy for any issues or questions you have, before you go to your professors. They follow you until they graduate, and in their Seventh Year, when you're a Fourth Year, they'll help you be a good Big Brother—in my case a Big Sister—to your own Little Brother."

Draco grimaced at the convoluted concept. "That sounds ridiculous," he spat.

Harry agreed but decided to ask instead, "So you guys don't have Heads of Houses? Or prefects? Isn't that what they're there for?"

Hermione shrugged, "We don't have houses."

Draco nearly choked, "You don't have—Mimi, this school sounds really barmy. Perhaps, you shouldn't go after all," he tried to reason with her. He dutifully ignored her rolling her eyes once again, and then rubbed his chin in thought. "Or perhaps I should tell Father to send me there with you."

Hermione sat up and stopped with her water tornadoes. "If you think about it, the Hogwarts house system is really quite infantile and only breeds animosity and anxiety from constant competition."

Draco looked at Harry confused, "Did you understand any of that?"

Harry shook his head, scratching behind his ear. "Breeds what?"

Hermione huffed. "Think about it. At 11 years old, you're sorted into four houses based on your personalities at that age. But who's to say that there are only 4 types of personalities? Not to mention, I plan to have grown and matured by the time I graduated. I won't be the same girl at age 17 that I was at 11. At least I sincerely hope not." She crossed her arms and looked between her boys. "Plus, all it does is pit children against one another because they're separated and told their house is better than the others."

Harry chuckled sitting up as well. "It's just a little competition. That's healthy, right?" And then he glanced at Draco before turning back to Hermione smirking. "Besides, everyone knows that Gryffindor actually is the best house."

Draco glared at him and sniffed, turning away from him, nose high in the air. "Please." He scoffed. "Gryffindor is the home of the idiotic and foolish. More brawn than brains over there, if you know what I mean."

Hermione shook her head at them, a smile playing at the edge of her lips. Her dark curls flew around her. "Thank you for proving my point." She waited until their little quibble was through before adding, "You two just remember who your best friend is. Don't go find another super smart girl to replace me."

"Please," Draco uncharacteristically snorted. He looked over the edge of the rock into the pond at his own reflection, tussling his pale locks. "As if anyone could compare to you and are worth our time."

Hermione's large grin was almost blinding. Harry flushed at her smile. "Yeah Mimi, no one could ever replace you. You're one of a kind."

Hermione jumped onto Harry, throwing him onto his back and causing him to let out a harsh breath and a groan. But her tight hug stopped him from complaining.

Lily looked out the large window from the upstairs patio at the three in the gardens. She smiled, thinking how wonderful it was that the three kids with no siblings of their own, found irrevocable bonds with one another. She tried not to think about what would happen tomorrow when they would separate and start at their respective schools in the morning. She hoped this bond would carry the strength it did now throughout their years at separate schools. That distance, hopefully, would not be their enemy.

IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE A/N AT THE TOP, I WOULD GO BACK AND READ IT!

I can't promise you when the next update will be. I have high hopes to have those chapters will be rewritten before the end of the summer, so that I can at least pump out Year 1 for the gangs at Durmstang and Hogwarts by the end of the year. There will be longer chapters from here on out and each year will be divided into 2 or 3 chapters (if that gives you any idea). There will also be a host of OCs, so be on the lookout for that.

Shoot me a review or a PM if you guys have any questions whatsoever, or anything you guys are specifically hoping I add to the stories. As always THANK YOU EVERYONE who has continued to have faith in this story and haven't given up on this story or its annoying author :)