CHAPTER 4 - Back to Hermione Granger

Hermione felt dirty...she could literally feel her skin crawl. Arriving at her parents' house, she stripped off her clothes as she raced for the shower. She turned the temperature up so high, she was endanger of being scalded. She didn't care! She had to scrub all the filth of the last four years from her skin before she could and would do another thing... Finally with her skin almost rubbed raw, she sat on the bottom of the shower and let the hot water pour over her naked body. She was exhausted...sick and tired of endless war...and she never wanted to see either Harry Potter or Ronald Billius Weasley ever again...

After a long time, she was thoroughly waterlogged. She reached up and turned off the shower. She wrapped herself up in a towel and staggered to her room. Dropping the wet towel on the floor, she crawled on to her bed and pulled a duvet over her still damp body...and then she fell into a deep sleep.

Early the next morning, Hermione packed up all her belongings as well as the belongings of her parents that she wished to keep. Unfortunately, the Grangers didn't make it off to Australia. They were caught by Voldemort's Death Eaters while they were packing up their car...mercifully though they weren't tortured...a simple Avada took them both out. Hermione was grateful for small mercies.

Once the house was stripped of all the family's possessions, she turned the lights out and said goodbye to her childhood home. It could never again be a home to her so it was time to let it go. Hermione picked up her beaded bag with the non-detectable extension charm on it and put on her long black cloak, pulling the hood close around her face, and then apparated to the front step of Gringotts.

Walking quickly up the front steps, she nodded her head to the two goblin guards at the door. Then she walked up to the desk and asked to speak to a bank officer about a private matter. She had to wait for a few minutes before she was ushered into a well-appointed office. A goblin stood up and nodding his head, he said, "My name is Bannuk. How may I help Miss Hermione Granger, part of the Golden Trio and Gryffindor princess?"

Hermione bowed deeply to the goblin and stated, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Bannuk. Firstly, I am here to make reparations toward the damage that we did when we broke into the Lestrange Vault and then left via your dragon."

The goblin nodded at that and Hermione continued, "Secondly, my parents are dead. They were killed by Death Eaters. I am their only child and will inherit their estate. I need help first in probating their wills in mundane courts and in selling their property (cars, house, dental practice). Once the property is sold, my first priority is making Gringotts "whole".

Hermione further stated, "Then, I want a new identification and a new wand. I need to get away and I don't want anyone to be able to find/trace me. I am of age in both the wizarding and mundane world as I used a Time-Turner with Hogwarts approval for my third years...so I am naturally 18. Will it be a problem to get new identification for both wizarding and non-wizarding England? And about my mail...is it possible for Gringotts to receive all my mail and only forward what is truly important? Also, how would I go about getting an untraceable wand?"

Finally she concluded, "Lastly, I have both my parents and my possessions with me. I would like to open a large vault today and place everything of value within them so I will be free to travel and not have to worry about them being stolen." and there she finished.

The goblin thought for a few minutes as he sat behind his desk, his hands steepled. He had been surprised that Hermione had come to make reparations the very day after the Battle of Hogwarts...surprised by the fact that she did it voluntarily AND that she had done it so soon too. And he was just as surprised by the honor she had shown toward him by making such a deep vow. He would do his best for her and said, "Miss Granger."

Hermione interrupted, "Hermione, please!"

Nodding his head, he continued, "I will be happy to serve you in these matters. The vault we can arrange for this morning and the same for the untraceable wand...we goblins always keep a few on hand for "special occasions"...and I think this situation counts as "special"! As for the IDs, that will take a couple of days. I think we can get the probate going in a few days as well. Once the will is settled, we will take our portion to cover the damages done to Gringotts, and then transfer the rest of the monies to the bank or banks of your choice. Additionally, I will be happy to receive any owls directed toward you. Is this acceptable, Hermione?"

Hermione nodded her approval and then Bannuk continued, "And where will you be staying while we are making these arrangements for you?"

Hermione looked embarrassed and then said reluctantly, "I...I didn't think that far ahead. I just had to get away from the wizarding world and my parents' home is no longer home to me... Could you make any suggestions, please?"

Again, Bannuk thought carefully and said, "We goblins have a "safe house" of sorts for when situations arise that take a witch or wizard out of their natural home environment. It is quiet, comfortable, and unplottable. It would be our pleasure to host you there until you are able to move on."

Hermione really appreciated the significant honor that had been done for her. She bowed deeply and expressed her thanks most profusely. Then after blood-signing some documents, she and Bannuk headed toward her new vault. Once the belongings were placed in the vault and it was sealed, they headed back up toward the main hall of Gringotts. Bannuk gave her a pouch filled with galleons and beckoned for one of the lesser goblins to take Hermione to the Goblin safe house. Hermione again bowed deeply in front of him and he tilted his head in return. Then...it was off for parts unknown...aka the goblin safe house!