Disclaimer: Its all J.K. Rowling's stuff, got that?
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Chapter 3: The Mage Knights of Hogwarts
When Hermione woke up, the first thing she saw were a pair of twinkling blue eyes behind a pair of half moon spectacles. As her vision came in focus, she saw that they belonged to a kindly looking old man. He had long silver hair and a beard that went down to his waist. He also had a crooked nose and elegant purple robes.
"Ah, I see that you have woken, Miss Hermione Granger."
Hermione looked around. She was lying in a bed in the middle of a small room with stone walls. Sunlight was streaming through the windows behind her and there was a wooden door not to far away in front of her bed. The old man was sitting on a stool right next to the bed.
Hermione stared at the old man in bewilderment. "Wh..who are you? Where am I? H..how do you know my n..name?"
The old man chuckled. "Ah, yes. In answer to your first question, I am Albus Dumbledore, Guardian of Hogwarts. In answer to your second question, you are in a guest room of Hogwarts Castle. In answer to your third question...well lets just say that I have ways of finding things out."
Hermione was about to ask more questions when the door opened and two knights walked in. Hermione recognized one of them (with his raven black hair, green eyes, and lightning bolt shaped scar) as the knight whom had saved her from the troll. The other knight was a little taller. He had firey red hair and freckles plastered all over his face. He wore armor that was similar to the armor of the black haired knight, only that his was old, battered, and rusty though still in good condition. His head gear had two small horns sticking out on opposite sides of his visor. He too wore a red cape.
"Ah, most excellent timing," Dumbledore gestured toward the redheaded knight. "This is Sir Ronald Weasley."
Hermione gaped at the knight when she heard this. "The House of Weasley?" she asked. The House of Weasley was one of the oldest aristocratic families of the Gryffindor nobility.
Sir Ronald grinned. "Nope, the House of rats and mice." Apparently, sarcasm seemed to be second nature to him.
Dumbledore chuckled and gestured toward the other knight. "I believe you have already met Sir Harry Potter."
Sir Harry smiled. "Are you all right?" he asked with concern in his green eyes.
Hermione bowed her head. You have saved my life, Sir knight," she said. "I am forever in your grace's debt..."
"Please call me Harry," interrupted the knight. "And call him Ron. We really hate those ridiculous formalities that people use with us. And you can forget about that 'life debt'. I was only doing what any Mage Knight would have done so don't bother."
"Mage Knight?" asked Hermione.
"That's what we are," said Harry. "The Mage Knights are an order of knights with magical powers. Are mission is to protect the innocent and weak from evil and to uphold justice within the four kingdoms. Are current goal however, is the destruction of the Death Eaters."
"Death Eaters?"
"The rulers of the Kingdom of Slytherin," answered Ron.
Harry continued, "Years ago the Kingdom of Slytherin was a peaceful kingdom. However all of that changed when King Lucius inherited the throne about 25 years ago. He turned the entire kingdom around and brought in a cult known as the Death Eaters, of which he himself is a member of, into power. The Death Eaters live to either enslave or destroy those whom they consider inferior. They rule the Kingdom of Slytherin in a reign of terror. However, they weren't happy with just Slytherin and set about waging war on the other three kingdoms. Gryffindor was conquered 15 years ago and..." At this point, Harry stopped and closed his eyes. Apparently, he had recalled something painful.
"Anyways, we've been fighting Death Eaters ever since," finished Ron.
Hermione looked around. "Where is this place?"
"Hogwarts Castle is our Headquarters," said Ron. "Its located at the point where the borders of the four kingdoms meet. Furthermore, its unplottable so the Death Eaters can't find it unless all four kingdoms are under their control."
"Now I am sure that you would all like to continue conversing but I believe that Miss Granger deserves some rest," said Dumbledore. "There will be a meeting tomorrow and I would like for her to attend."
The three said their good byes and left. As the door closed, Hermione wondered about what she had gotten herself into.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The next day, Hermione answered a knocking on her door to see an amazing sight. Outside of her door was a giant of a man about two times larger than the average human. He had shaggy black hair and a thick beard. He wore a huge moleskin coat and his beetle black eyes shone with kindness and warmth.
"'ello there," he said. "The name's Rebeus Hagrid. People call me Hagrid. I'm ter show yeh ter the Great Hall."
Hermione nodded dumbly, overwhelmed by the sheer size of the man. As Hagrid led her down the corridors she tried to strike up a conversation. "What do you do hear Hagrid?" she asked.
"I'm the keeper of the keys and game keeper 'ere. Namely, I look a'ter the animals that live aroun' Hogwarts and I make sure tha' they're treated righ'."
"Do you like it here?"
"I wouldn' trade fer anythin' at all. Ah we're 'ere now."
Hermione gasped at the sure size of the Great Hall. The ceiling appeared to be bewitched to show the sunny blue skies outside. Tapestries of many different colors were floating above four long tables. Seated around those tables were hundreds of Mage Knights all talking amongst themselves. As Hagrid led her down the Hall, Hermione was introduced to a number of the Mage Knights. There were Sir Justin Finch-Fletchley and Sir Ernie Macmilan, both with yellow capes. She was also introduced to a sad looking black haired woman, Sir Cho Chang. She had a blue cape. As Hermione was going through these introductions she felt an icy chill creep along her spine. She whipped around and saw that she was being glared at by a platinum blonde haired knight with cold greyish blue eyes. He wore a green cape and his visor was adorned with dragon wings. He had a nasty sneer and was glaring at her with the utmost malice. Hermione shivered and pointed him out to Hagrid.
"Oh, tha' would be Sir Draco Malfoy. Nasty bugger if yeh ask me," whispered Hagrid.
Hermione noticed Harry and Ron as they beamed at her when she took a seat at the high table next to Dumbledore. Dumbledore smiled at her before he stood up to make an announcement.
"Knights of the Order," he spoke. "To my left is Miss Hermione Granger. Three days ago, Miss Granger lost her home and family in a Death Eater attack. Therefore, she shall be staying at Hogwarts for the time being. However, I am positive that she would not want her time here to be wasted. Therefore, though she is not of noble birth, I extend to her an invitation to be trained in the arts of combat and magic so that she may join us in the war against the Death Eaters. That is, of course, if she accepts."
Hermione was speechless. She spent a few minutes thinking about the offer but she could only come to one conclusion. The Death Eaters had taken everything from her and now she was being given the chance to strike back at them. Furthermore, she was being given a shot at a new life after her old one had been crushed. After a few moments, Hermione looked up and simply replied, "I accept."