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One evening in late September, a duo of students were heading out to one of the courtyards to enjoy the weather after dinner in the Great Hall. On their way, they heard someone singing down the corridor. Curious, the pair slowly crept down the hall and peaked into one of the unused classrooms, only to see Hermione Granger singing and playing what could only be a conjured piano.
When the song came to its end, the young students were surprised when Hermione called out to them before turning around with a slight smile, “you can come in and join me, you know.” Flushed with embarrassment at having been caught watching, the pair stepped fully into the room and sat at a desk near where the piano sat. “We didn’t know you could sing, Miss Granger,” said the blond Hufflepuff boy. The corner of her mouth tucked up, Hermione replied, “I’ve told you, Darius, you can just call me Hermione. I’m not one to stand on ceremony.” Seeing the boy nod bashfully, she continued, “I’ve always enjoyed music, and I learned to play piano when I was little. It’s just, with the war, I didn’t have much time to indulge myself. Now that everything’s settling, I was inspired to start again.”
Marie, a second-year Hufflepuff and Darius’ cousin, spoke up then, “I quite like singing! Could we, maybe, join you sometimes?” Looking between the two with gentle understanding, Hermione nodded. “You’re welcome to bring a couple of friends that might also like to join. I think we all need something to take our minds off all the difficult things that have happened the last couple of years.”
And so, that is how it began. By mid-October, there were so many first and second-year students from all four houses that had joined Hermione, Marie, and Darius, that the group had to move out to the grounds in order for everyone to have enough space. They met each evening near Hagrid’s hut and found a spot out on one of the rolling hills or near the edge of Black Lake to enjoy an hour or two of just singing together. Sometimes, the music would lead to tears as the young students would feel the release of emotions they knew not what to do with, so conflicted with what had happened during the war and the non-linear healing that their world was going through post-war. When tears would spring up, Hermione made her way to them and gather them in a gentle hug, rubbing their back as she cooed loving nonsense into their ears.
It was during one of these evening sessions down by the Black Lake that the older students finally caught wind of what Hermione was doing. Spotted by a couple of sixth years, the word had spread like fiendfyre. Caught up in the song, most of the singing group didn’t notice as the rest of the students and the staff gathered round to hear them. Along with the Hogwarts residents, the giant squid and a good portion of the mermaids’ love were enjoying the music from the water, with the squid swaying his tentacles above the surface.
Hermione’s friends hadn’t had a clue that she was anywhere but the library when she would swan off after dinner. They’d not known of her musical talents. The only one of the older years that didn’t seem surprised by this revelation was Luna, who simply smiled before sitting down next to Hermione and taking her hand before adding her vocals to the song. Seeing the brunette witch surrounded by most of the first and second-years wasn’t surprising to those that knew her, as she had always been a staunch defender of the younger students, no matter the house, even before the war. Since coming back for their eighth year, she was an even fiercer force to be reckoned with in regard to her care for them, especially the young Slytherins who she refused to see painted with the same brush as they had been prior to the conflict. What did surprise them, even more so than her hidden talent, was the peaceful smile as she continued to sing with her eyes closed, swaying slightly as the group harmonized.
When the song came to its end, their land-dwelling audience watched as the mermaids and giant squid gave a form of applause by splashing lightly against the surface of the lake before dipping below and swimming off. The giant squid was the last to leave, playfully poking a couple of the young students in the sides before drifting off into the deep waters. Once their watery friends were gone, Hermione and the gathered children got up and made themselves ready to return to the school, many of them shocked to find they had another unknown audience. Professor Sprout started a round of applause, leading the rest of the staff and many of the older students to join in.
Walking up to the professors, Hermione dipped her head in respect while holding the hand of a small Slytherin girl who had been the first muggleborn to have been sorted into the house in over two centuries. “Miss Granger,” Professor McGonnagal said, stepping forward, “I nor the staff knew you had such a gathering, but it was beautiful to witness.” Nodding with a smile, Hermione responded, “thank you, Headmistress. Our group has grown quite a bit in the last month or so. We eventually ran out of space in the classroom I had used previously, so we figured while the weather still held we’d meet out on the green. I had no idea there were so many talented singers amongst the student population.” She finished her sentence with a squeeze of the hand and wink at the young Slytherin still attached to her, causing the girl to duck her head slightly with a pleased blush.
Professor Flitwick moved to join the conversation, “when the weather becomes too harsh, Miss Granger, you would all be welcome to use my classroom. There should be enough space in there for all of you and then some. Perhaps some of you would be willing to make things more official and we could restart the school choir? I have missed it the last few years.” A couple of nearby students gasped with joy, looking at Hermione eagerly. With a gentle laugh at their antics, Hermione nodded at the diminutive professor, “thank you Professor. Maybe I can meet with you tomorrow after class and we can discuss the particulars? Then I could spread the word to this lot to see if they would want to join.” A few excited squeals could be heard through the surrounding group of youngsters, eliciting chuckles from the professors and Hermione.
Taking her leave, Hermione and her children started to make their way back up toward the school’s main entrance. Luna seemed to float by, stating that they looked like ducklings following their mother. Watching the procession, many had to agree that Luna’s observation was correct. From that day, a majority of the school called the original group Hermione’s ducklings, which the children seemed to enjoy quite thoroughly. Hermione took it in stride, smiling at every bit of happiness the children could grasp onto as they all continued to heal in a post-war world. And each day, she continued to feel as if their joy and healing helped her own journey back to peace as well.