After only a few minutes into the journey, Luna suddenly said to Hermione in her light voice, "Congratulations on finding out you're the Head of what was thought an extinct House, Lady Hermione. I'm ever so pleased for you."
"Errr - thank you, Luna," she stammered. "I appreciate your kind words. But, please call me Hermione."
"Thank you, Hermione," said a dreamy Luna. "Daddy will probably want to me to interview you, at some time, as you're the first of the extinct Houses to revert back to Active status."
"Oh - alright," replied Hermione. "But - just not yet, alright?"
"I know," replied Luna. "You won't be ready for a while yet." Then she went back to reading her newsmagazine.
Harry wasn't the only one confused by what the young Ravenclaw was saying. But, he didn't want to seem rude to the girl, so just let her be. Back at Hogwarts the students quickly returned to their routine of classes. Only now, Harry was also having to get used to everyone thinking he was the Heir of Slytherin. The entire student body, except his six friends, Luna and the Weasley twins, gave him a wide berth. The Weasley twins even pranked him by waiting for him outside classes, some days, and escorting him around the castle.
They went out of their way to march ahead of Harry and his friends down the corridors, shouting, "Make way for the Heir of Slytherin, seriously evil wizard coming through!"
They were stopped by their older brother, Percy, a Gryffindor Sixth Year Prefect, who was deeply disapproving of this behaviour. "It is not a laughing matter," he said coldly. "Oh, get out of the way, Percy," said Fred. "Harry's in a hurry."
"Yeah, he's off to the Chamber of Secrets for a cup of tea with his fanged servant," said George, chortling.
Harry didn't mind. It made a mockery of the whole 'Heir of Slytherin' thing; and made him feel better that the twins, at least, thought the idea of his being Slytherin's heir was quite ludicrous. But, their antics seemed to be aggravating Draco Malfoy, who looked increasingly sour each time he saw them at it.
"It's because he's bursting to say it's really him," said Tracey knowingly. "You know how he hates anyone beating him at anything; and you're getting all the credit for his father's dirty work."
Having managed to escape from the Weasley twins, one afternoon, by way of his invisibility cloak. Harry was heading for the corridor where Mrs Norris was attacked when he heard caretaker Filch.
"...even more work for me! Mopping all night, like I haven't got enough to do! No, this is the final straw, I'm going to Dumbledore..." His footsteps receded along the out-of-sight corridor and he heard a distant door slam.
Harry poked his head around the corner and could see Filch had long gone. He was once again on the spot where Mrs. Norris had been attacked. And, at a glance, he could see what Filch had been shouting about. A great flood of water stretched over half the corridor. And it looked as though it was still seeping from under the door of the girl's bathroom. Now that Filch had stopped shouting, he could hear wails echoing off the bathroom walls. Harry wondered who the girl was who was crying, and was about to investigate when he realised it must have been that ghost the girls told him about, Moaning Myrtle. Instead, he decided it wasn't worth finding out and left, continuing on his way.
He'd managed to sneak past the flooding and was just about to leave the corridor when he saw a First Year Gryffindor girl coming the other way. It was young Ginevra Weasley, and she was walking as if in a daze. He was going to stop her and ask her if she was alright when he realised that she couldn't see him, anyway, under the invisibility cloak. Talking to her meant removing the cloak; and removing the cloak meant tolerating the whole fear of him being the Heir of Slytherin probably even from her. Instead, he sighed as he watched her go and hurried on. He'd check with the twins later to ask if their sister was alright.
It was New Years Eve when it became public knowledge via the Daily Prophet that the previously thought extinct House of Dagworth-Granger had been reactivated. However, it wasn't public knowledge as to the identity of the new Head of House.
As Harry had expected, it wasn't long before someone in the Ministry was sufficiently bribed by the Daily Prophet to release the information to them on the sly. It became front page news that the Head of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Dagworth-Granger was Hermione only a few days after their return to Hogwarts.
Harry had planned to send an immediate owl message to Cygnus and Wendell when it occurred but, as it was front page news, he knew both men would be aware of it the same time he was.
When the Daily Prophet was read by the students and staff, word quickly spread around the tables. Most were quite surprised, and some were pleased for her. However, there were some dirty looks directed Hermione's way from the Slytherin table.
Before things got out of hand, Harry and Daphne escorted Hermione to the front of the head table and stood with her facing the students.
He called, "May I have everyone's attention, please." It wasn't necessary, though, as they already had it. "I know the Daily Prophet is often full of lies and untruths..." 'Ha! Take that!' "...but, in this instance, they are essentially correct. "Through diligent research over the past few months, just before Christmas it was discovered our friend, Miss Hermione Jean Granger, is a direct descendant of Hector Dagworth-Granger, the first Lord and Head of the Noble and Ancient House of Dagworth-Granger."
As planned, Hermione lifted her right hand and showed her Head of House ring.
"This, of course, means she is not a muggleborn; but is, instead, a half-blood like me," continued Harry. "I'm sure you'll congratulate her on this discovery when you have the opportunity. For Lady Hermione, this means she has the burden of taking seat within the Wizengamot when she comes of age, and will be formally known as Lady Hermione Jean Dagworth-Granger. "In the mean time, she will remain Miss Hermione Granger here at school unless, of course, she is emancipated earlier."
Harry and Daphne then stepped apart from her. Daphne gave a slow low curtsey while Harry gave a bow accorded one Head of House to another. Then Hermione gave a slow and slightly deeper curtsey back.
What Harry and Daphne were pleased to note was the number of bows and curtseys accorded Hermione from the students and staff, before light applause broke out. Even some of the Slytherins of noble stock, though they were clearly unhappy to do so, accorded her the courtesy. Harry and Daphne were not surprised to note Malfoy wasn't one of them.
Harry and Daphne then escorted a blushing, quite embarrassed, Hermione back to her seat. The owls started flocking in the very next day. The group helped her sort through them and forward on everything of relevance to Cygnus.
Thankfully, there were no 'suspect' documents or packages. However, every time they discovered a betrothal contract, Hermione didn't know whether to blush in embarrassment or anger. It was even worse for her, when one of those contracts was for a boy attending Hogwarts at that time. She couldn't help but look in their direction.
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