[FOZ/HP] Start from Zero. Chapter 1. A story that starts again.
In her new life, Louise grew up as a slightly detached child, her past life experience prevented her from fully joining the company of her peers, making their hobbies, games and entertainment uninteresting for her, which is why she preferred to spend all her free time with her new parents or among books.
The new world was strikingly different from the previous one - there were neither magicians, nor a real aristocracy (well, she could not call aristocrats people who hold titles only for status, one that did not particularly affect anything), there weren't magical animals or others intelligent species, even elves did not exist here. Well, at least Louise was glad for that. This cruel and insanely strong magical creatures that were a threat to humanity in her homeworld were simply absent in this new world. But despite the fact that there were infinitely many differences, the similarities were also enough. At the age of five, her parents took her to the local library for the first time, and after gaining access to the encyclopedias of this world, she was much amazed that even the map of this world partially coincides with the map of Halkegenia. The German Democratic Republic took the place of the Empire of Germany, Gallia was called France, Belgium replaced Tristain and Great Britain in place of the flying island of Albion - which was now her new homeland. In the new world, everything was based on science and technology - cities, factories, machines, ships and even books were created without the slightest involvement of magic, although sometimes their capabilities and miracles even exceeded those created by magic in Louise's native world.
Take for example a device called a "TV" - a wooden box with a glass wall filled with strange metal and ceramic fixtures, was able to show very realistic moving images and accompany all this with sound, allowing you to watch scene plays and performances, events from various parts of the world as if you were personally there and observe them with your own eyes. It was like real magic! But, as her new father explained to Louise, all this was only an achievement of science and was created by the work of thousands of workers of the British company Deccacolour. Or, as another example, airplanes - huge machines made of steel, capable of flying in the sky faster and higher than any dragon or air ship in Halkegenia could. When Louise and her parents went to France for the first time on an annual summer vacation and visiting relatives, she was amazed at the comfort and smoothness of the flight of this strange machine, similar to the oversized Dragon's Raiment, that her former familiar Saito used during the battle with Reconquista army. But Saito's machine wasn't as nearly as beautiful and magnificent as this work of art and technology. Louise simply fell in love with this flying miracle and spent the whole flight staring at the porthole with a delightful look.But there were also self-moving carriages - buses and cars, self-propelled sea and river vessels and boats, small rooms called "elevators", capable of raising and lowering their passengers to great heights in a matter of minutes. Or an incredible means of communication - a "telephone", allowing you to hear your interlocutor from the other end of the world, as if he is standing next to you and talking in your ear.Well, all sorts of everyday home conveniences like shower rooms, a refrigerator, a coffee machine (although her parents did not allow her to drink coffee often, but Louise cherished these rare moments), incredibly comfortable and beautiful clothes and bedding. And a really huge variety of delicious dishes and sweets (which Louise's parents did not allow her to eat more often than she would like, but still). Life in the new world seemed like a real fairy tale.
Louise was incredibly lucky with her new family, because she could be born in complete poverty or live with a cruel kin who would keep you in the cupboard under the stairs, starve you, and make you work like a slave. But her new parents weren't like that. First, they loved Louise, who was their only child. Secondly, they took care of her and protected her in every way. Thirdly, they were quite wealthy people, even if they were far less wealthy than her former de Vallière family, but Louise had nothing to complain about because her wardrobe was quite diverse (and the local clothes were much more beautiful and more comfortable than those in Halkegenia), they were always ready to buy her a new book, and at the same time they were never forced to do anything and they never demand anything from her. No, Louise did not grow up a spoiled child, because at the time of her rebirth, she was almost 17 Halkenegenian years old (and the year in Halkegenia lasted 384 days) or almost 18 Earth years old, so she behaved obediently and responsibly, always following the rules of behavior and was respectful towards to her parents and those around her. The "Rule of Steel", driven tightly into her by her first mother Karin, unconsciously forced Louise to behave herself, which sometimes quite surprised both parents and caretakers in kindergarten, and, later, even teachers at school, since she never participated in any childish pranks and carefully avoided breaking any rules, preferring to spend time reading somewhere in a secluded corner or in the school library away from noisy schoolchildren.
At first, the teachers considered her an introvert, but after talking with her they quickly realized that the girl was not only incredibly smart and knowledgeable, but her style of speech and communication skills contrasted strikingly with that of her peers, as if she was not a elementary school student, but at least a freshman from college, which explained her problems with communicating with her peers, because it was difficult for children to maintain complex conversations on the topic of science and technology with Louise, and she simply quickly got bored with a discussion of a new children's television series, comics and toys. Louise was above that, and besides, she was consciously much older than them. But with all this, Louise never allow any of her peers any attempts of insulting or bullying her go unpunished, because she had enough of this attitude back in the Magic Academy of Tristain and always responded to this with a more sarcastic answer that invariably caused tears from the offender and he or she ran away from Louise, leaving her a winner in their verbal confrontation. It usually didn't come to physical violence, but even in this Louise was much more prepared than childrens around her.
Even in a past life, from a young age, Louise was trained in fencing by Karin herself, since her mother believed that all her children must be as trained and seasoned warriors as she herself. And although Louise was not a brilliant fencer or possessor of big fists, the girl had the dexterity and skills to survive in difficult situations. And even though the new body lacked muscle memory and the fitness of the previous body, but a well-thought-out approach to combat, the ability to think tactically, the speed and flexibility gained in the gymnastics courses that Louise attended from the age of four, allowed her to emerge victorious from any fight, although she never left without her own bruises. As a result, attempts to insult or beat Louise quickly stopped, as the children realized that avoiding Louise was much easier than being her adversary. All this led to the fact that the overwhelming majority of time Louise spent alone far from the rest of the children, with no real chance to make friends or even make good acquaintances.
Louise lived with her parents in England in the small town of Colchester in the northeast of London near the east coast of the island. They lived in a two-story house built of brown brick and surrounded on all sides by a dense fence of privet, creating the illusion of privacy and isolation, which Louise liked very much, because in the warm seasons it was possible to spend time in the backyard under their shade, comfortably sitting on a sun lounger while reading another big science book. The new parents trusted Louise in every possible way, and could with good conscience go to work and be sure that upon their return the house would stand, Louise would be safe and sound, and even fed, as she had learned to heat food in the microwave oven earlier than she could clearly speak.
The time spent alone, Louise devoted herself to a deeper study of the world around her from books and TV shows, and the opportunity to secretly just sit on her bed and cry, remembering her old life, friends, family and... Saito. She had long ago come to an agreement with herself about her feelings for him and that they would never be together again. And she missed him and even his perverted behavior. In a new life, she lacked a close friend like him. But besides him there was still someone else to remember. Her sister Cattleya, who was weakened by a long and serious illness, her strict sister Eleanor, the harsh but fair mother Karin and her soft, with a warm smile father - Duke de la Vallière. She even remembered the not so hated Kirche and the stoic Tabitha, the scandalous Montmorency and the womanizer Guiche, her beloved friend - Princess Henrietta, and of course that stupid cow - Siesta the maid.
The first days of her new life, when Louise realized that she had left her world forever and ended up in a new world, were the most difficult for her. She could not hold back her tears and wept day and night, forcing her new parents to worry, who could not understand the reason why their newborn daughter is constantly crying. Perhaps this would go on, but Louise finally calmed down and pulled herself together. She accepted a new life as payment for her last spell, which was bound to stop the Reconquista army. Louise completely forbade herself to believe even in the potential possibility that this was not enough, because then her life and sacrifice would have been wasted. No, Louise was sure that everything worked out and that her friends, relatives and loved ones would live happily and completely safe, and now she had to live a new life in a new environment.
When Louise was three years old and she finally was able to confidently move around the house herself, then the first thing she did was she found a mirror to examine her new body. In the end, what she saw at the same time both pleased and afflicted her. Now she no longer had her beautiful blond hair with a light strawberry tint, instead she was now a brunette with still short childs hair, and her eyes now were brown, but overall that was acceptable. And if you believe that the daughter inherits the appearance of the mother, then her future was quite promising in terms of female beauty, which she lacked quite a lot in her past life.
Louise's biggest disappointment with the new life was that there was no magic in the new world. At all. Parents and caretakers in the kindergarten, though diligently avoided directly answering her questions about magic, starting to tell tales about princesses, unicorns and dragons, but Louise quickly realized that there was no real magic in the world, and when she was able to learn the local alphabet and figure it out in the linguistic differences between Albion and local English, nothing could stop young Louise from receiving information from books. And the answer found in the books was cruel - magic does not exist here. Absolutely. It was overwhelming. For the one who spent most of her life striving to become a powerful magician, the complete lack of magic was simply a shock. After all, her dream was now completely unattainable. And this means that as a magician she is now truly a Zero. Of course, Louise tried to do exercises from a previous life on the development of the magic core, but pretty quickly realized that they were meaningless and that Louise was not a magician. Although sometimes various oddities happened around her, like furniture moving slightly from its places; traffic light suddenly switching from green to yellow and back to green or a doll's dress that turned from blue to pink, but critically thinking about it Louise came to the conclusion that it was just a matter of poor-quality dye on the fabric, a failure in the traffic light electronics and strong vibration of the house from passing truck.
In the end, after a long and serious thought, Louise decided that science would become a new life goal. If she was not destined to become the greatest magician, then she simply must become the greatest scientist. She will discover a new medicine (not like there was a shortage of them), invent a new source of energy (and again there were a lot of different ones), or she will come up with a way to reach the moon (which was just one) or other planets (and there were just a lot of them). It was a worthy goal, and Louise strove for it with confidence and purpose.
Her grades at school have always been the best and from year to year she took first places in the lists of the best students. She won all kinds of children's science contests, and the number of books she read was so incredible that for the sake of new information she now had to go to London libraries. She personally began to correspond with prominent British scientists (who still perceived her as a child, but often answered her with a reply letter) and tried to always be up to date with the latest discoveries and inventions. That is why her house now looked like a branch of the British Royal Library, and her room looked like a carefully organized archive of letters and notes.
All this led to the fact that her successes and achievements were noticed by local journalists and Louise more than once was honored to be invited to a TV show dedicated to young children's talents as a guest or a local celebrity. Newspaper and children's magazine articles were written about her and Louise herself was twice awarded by the British Scientific Community as a young child prodigy whose bright future will certainly become the guiding star for British science. Or maybe not.
***
Today was the nineteenth of September one thousand nine hundred and ninety and on that day Louise celebrated her eleventh birthday. The celebration was held in the usual small family event. They never invited guests, since Louise did not have any friends, and that evening only she and her parents were at the table. On the table was a large cream cake with fresh strawberries, which had been brought by my father in the morning from one of the best pastry shops in London, on the coach in the living room there were thick volumes of encyclopedias neatly packed in wrapping paper that the parents decided to gift her this year, and the room was filled with warmth and care of the holiday.
"And now, dear, make a wish and blow out all the candles!" her father recited enthusiastically.
"But dad, all these wish-making is stupid, you know that I don't believe in them," Louise frowned, who was always embarrassed by this childish pretense towards her.
"It may be stupid, but wish is important, and making a wish you give magic a chance to fulfill it!" no less joyfully than the father said her mother.
"Oh, magic, that's fiction! I'm not four years old and I know that magic doesn't exist!" Louise was indignant, but still, something inside her seemed to whisper to her to listen to the advice of her parents. "Oh well! I wish ..." Louise wondered what she wanted. She had books, and she would read new ones in the library or her parents would buy her as soon as possible. In school, too, everything was fine. Her wonderful, almost perfect memory, sharp mind and attentiveness helped her in her scientific pursuit of knowledge. Then what to wish for? Maybe ... friends? "I wish ..." what would I wish for? "I wish ..." she did not even know. The magic? Oh, what a stupid thing. What is she, a child or something, to dream of magic? "I wish ..." to hell! If only she could change everything. The ability to decide your own future and achieve what you want. All she needs is ... Magic ?!
Louise herself did not notice how she suddenly took in full lungs of air and extinguished all the candles with one powerful blow.
"It was stupid" Louise said quietly.
"And what did you wish, my child?" her father asked.
"Nothing. All this is nonsense..."
Louise did not have time to continue her thought because at this very moment the doorbell of the house persistently rang three times.
"Hmm, and who may that be?" Louise's mother got up from her chair and went to open the door.
When the door opened Louise saw the strangest woman she had to meet in her life. She was a tall and thin old lady with a stern face and piercing eyes. She was dressed in a long green robes tightly framing her figure, and on her head was a green, in the color of a robes, pointed hat with brims.
"Who are you?" Louise's mother asked a stranger.
"Is this Abbot Road, house number 3?"
"Yes, but ..."
"My name is Minerva McGonagall and I have a letter for your daughter."
"A letter? Please forgive me, but you look somehow odd to be a postman."
"I'm just sent from our school to deliver a letter to you and explain everything to you and your daughter. Can I come in?"
"Ah, yes, of course," Louise's mother let the woman into the house, and then strange woman pulled a parchment envelope from under the lapel of her robes and handed it to Louise.
Louise examined the strange letter with genuine interest. A yellowish parchment paper envelope sealed with purple sealing wax, decorated with a coat of arms depicting a lion, an eagle, a badger and a snake, and in the middle - a large letter "H" and on the coat of arms were ornate inscriptions. She hasn't seen anything like it since her last life. And on the envelope itself was hand written text - "Miss Hermione Granger, Essex, Colchester, Abbot Road, 3, room under the roof". The address was written in emerald green ink, and there was no stamp on the envelope.
In anticipation of not even knowing what, Louise, with trembling hands, opened the envelope and pulled out the letter itself:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Ms. Granger!
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely, Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress.
"Is this some kind of joke? If so, then it's not funny!" said slightly angry Louise, lowering the letter.
"I assure you, Miss Granger, that this letter is not a joke, and you really are a witch!" the woman said in a confident dry tone.
"Witch? Magic school ?! Are you out of your mind ?!" cried Louise, and her face turned red with indignation. For a long time no one had so mocked her and she definitely did not like this joke. "Am I that stupid toddler to believe in such stupidity? Magic does not exist!"
"Oh, Miss Granger, I assure you that you are completely wrong," Louise's father already wanted to say something to the woman when she with a flick of her hand pulled a brown-black pointer-like wand from her sleeve and waved it toward the standing hanger, turning it into a palm tree.
Louise took her breath away, she stood neither alive nor dead and did not know what to think. Her whole life has just been turned upside down, reviving forgotten hopes and hurting old wounds in her soul. When she had already accepted that there was no magic in this world, that she was no longer a magician, this woman came and showed how Louise was wrong that she gave up so early. Tears streamed down Louise's cheeks and her lower lip quivered.
"Go away immediately! I don't know how you did this trick, but you made our daughter cry on her own birthday! Shame on you!" her mother immediately jumped up to protect her daughter.
"Please mom!" Louise grabbed her mother's arm, stopping her. "Mom, she is not to blame. I am. Oh gods ..."
"Honey, what are you ..."
"Mom is all right, it's from joy, I just could not restrain myself. I always, always wanted to be a magician, but I didn't even believe that it was possible, and now..." said Louise through tears.
"Please, young child, there is no place for tears. I never thought that someone would have such a strong reaction to the fact that he or she is a wizard or a witch."
"You don't understand, just don't understand how important this is for me," Louise answered, wiping her tears in a trembling voice.
"Important? What are you talking about?" worried her mother.
"But what if I fail, if I cant make it work?" ignoring the mother's concern, Louise asked the woman.
"What are you talking about, child? Of course you can do it! If you hadn't had magic, then Hogwarts would not send you a letter. Such letters come only to those who will surely become a wizard or a witch. So don't worry, you definitely have this talent and you just need to develop it."
"Thank you, thank you so much!" Tears again flowed from Louise's eyes, but her face was joyful and she grinned.
"It's nothing, Miss Granger. I will be back tomorrow and we, together with your parents and you, will go to Diagon Alley to make the necessary purchases for the school."
"And if we do not want to send our daughter to this school?" said Louise's father, but when he saw the stunned and unbelieving expression on Louise's face directed at him, he immediately faltered. "Although it is up to Hermione to decide."
"Of course I want! Dad, mom, please let me!" said Louise in an imploring tone.
"Well, if you really want this, then how can we refuse you?" said Louise's mother smiling.
"Thank you! Thank you! Dad, mom, you are the best parents in the world! And this is the best birthday !!!" Louise hastened to hug her father and then mother tightly.
"Well then it's decided. Tomorrow I will visit you right after breakfast. The day is long, so be ready for it. And you, Miss Granger, I highly recommend getting enough sleep, because I know that children often cannot fall asleep from the joy of knowing that they have become wizard or witch. And one last thing - Please do not to tell anyone about my visit. Although magic exists in our world, it is protected by secrecy and it is forbidden to talk about it. I wish you a good evening and Happy Birthday to you, Miss Granger!" With these words, Deputy Director Minerva McGonagall withdrew and soon disappeared from sight.
"I have magic!!!" Louise cried joyfully, and her parents exchanged understanding glances.
***
Shopping trip to Diagon Alley became for Louise one of the warmest memories of her new life. The magic just captivated everything around, and the atmosphere of the shopping district and the people in it reminded her of the capital of Tristain from a past life. As if she returned to her homeland again, albeit briefly. Louise for the first time in a long time was truly sincerely happy. The first thing they did was visit to Gringotts Bank, where they exchanged British pounds for magical galleons, sickles and knuts. Then they bought robes that were required to be worn by Hogwarts students, which Louise personally did not like, because the local robes were not as comfortable as her casual clothes. Then there was a trip to the local branch of paradise of any bibliophile - the Florish and Blotts shop, where, in addition to the required first-year books, several more charms books were bought, and a Hogwarts history book, and books recommended by Mrs. McGonagall about a certain Harry Potter (which, in Louise's eyes, were just third-rate fictional trash) and some reference materials on magical creatures, plants and potions. Louise would like to buy everything in the store, but the money from her parents was far from endless, so she bought a reasonable minimum. And then, then there was the purchase of the most important thing for any wizard - a magical wand.
The shop where magic wands were sold was located in a small battered building on the far edge from all other establishments. The entrance above it was decorated with a sign with faded gold letters "The Ollivander Family - producers of magic wands from 382 BC" from which all the gilding was almost gone. And in the middle of the dusty window on a faded purple pillow as an example of goods lay a single wand. It was in this place that Louise was to buy her first magic wand in this world.
"Good afternoon," as soon as they went inside, a quiet voice was heard and an elderly man appeared in front of them, and from his large almost colorless eyes came a strange, moonlight glow that cut through the store darkness.
"Hello," squeaked Louise.
"Ah, Minerva McGonagall, the fir and dragon's heartstring, 9.5 inches, tough, good for transfiguration and protection. I see you still use it."
"Of course, Mr. Ollivander, although you tell me this every time I come to you with another freshman."
"Yes, yes, of course. I'm getting old, but my eyes aren't letting me down," the old man stared at Louise and grunted something. "I see that you came to pick your first magic wand."
"Yes sir," Louise answered.
"But you are mistaken in this," and before Louise could ask, he continued. "It's not the wizard who chooses the wand, but the wand who chooses the wizard," he said meaningly. "Well, let's get started. Which of the hands do you prefer to use?"
"Uh? Right?"
"Interesting," the old man grunted and went to the rack with wands.
The next hour and a half became insanely tiring for Louise. They tried hundreds of different wands, all were of different design, shape, color and material. Some felt cold, some overly felt hot or even burning, some felt spiky, others just slipped out, and one even shocked her. But finally, her torment ended and the next wand in her hand became slightly warm and felt like a continuation of herself.
"Grapevine and dragon's heartstring, ten and three quarters, galling, good for enchantment. Well, wave her, see what you get."
Louise obeyed and waved her wand, and from the tip of which a wave of multi-colored wave immediately flown.
"Excellent! That would be 7 galleons."
In the end, Louise didn't even remember how they bought cauldrons for potions, a telescope, scales and various trifles, her whole mind was occupied by a magic wand and her impatient desire to get home as soon as possible to try different spells. And just before going home, Professor McGonagall handed her a train ticket, and explained to her and her parents how to get to platforms 9 and 3/4, and then said that she would look forward to see Louise on September 1st, which would come in almost a year from now.
For the remainder of the year, Louise would had to finish fifth grade at her school (not that it was any kind of difficulty), arrange an examination for a new grades in the next summers for each subsequent year, practically memorize all purchased books on magic, practice some spells that are for her greatest joy worked as expected, even if not on the first try, but now no one would have dared call her Louise the Zero, because she could do magic, and this was most important thing in the world!
Louise was in paradise. Or maybe not.
