Harry Potter sat on his bed staring down at his trunk. Ron Weasley and Seamus Finnigan sat at a small table discussing next years quidditch teams. Neville Longbottom and Dean Thomas were too busy hauling their trunks to the stairs so that they could be taken to the train.

"Hi, Hermione." Neville stepped back for me to enter the room, "Packed already?" He grinned up at me his chubby face sweaty from hauling his too heavy trunk.

"Yes I am." I noticed the nearly empty trunks of the other three boys, "You all should hurry and pack too the train leaves in two hours and I am not packing for you."

Harry smiled mirthlessly at me and continued to stare at the large bag of gold coins sitting on the floor in front of his trunk. Ron, however, decided on the infant approach, "Awww, come on Hermione, I need help, there is so much to do."

"Unfortunately, I cannot help you this time. I've been called to the headmaster's office so you are on your own."

Both boys jumped up at the news, "What for?" "What does he want?" "What did you do?"

"I don't know, all I know is that he asked me to see him before I left." I turned to leave, "I'll meet you on the train." I jogged past the other students in the common room, through the fat lady's portrait and down several flights of stairs and hallways to the gargoyle that his Professor Dumbledore's office.

"What are you doing here, Granger?" I looked toward the pestering voice into the equally pestering face of none other than the ferret, Draco Malfoy.

If I hadn't been exhausted from the past week I would have retorted smartly, as it was the emotional turmoil of Cedric dying had dampened my mood enough that I barely had the energy to reply. "I am waiting to meet Professor McGonigall. The Headmaster asked to see me."

"You'll have to wait your turn because I am meeting Professor Snape here because my parents wish to speak with the headmaster. My father is probably going to close the school and throw the crazy old geezer in Azkaban. You may as well go back where you belong."

"And just where is it you think I belong?" Somehow he always managed to get me angry enough to forget how exhausted I was.

His pale flat lips curled, he leaned closer to me, "In chains like the rest of the filthy mud-bloods."

"You spoiled hurtful brat!" Without realizing it I had drawn my wand, as had he. We stood still for what seemed like ages as I stared him down, I knew he would never apologize but I wouldn't back down until he did.

"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, what is the meaning of this?" My head of house stood atop the stairs her hands on her hips and her posture as severe as ever.

I however took no notice of the professor, my attention was captured by the two people standing behind her. A man and a woman, both middle aged and attired in expensive business ware, gaped at Malfoy and me. "Mum, Dad!" I holstered my wand and trotted to my parents, wanting to throw myself in their arms, but settling to stand respectfully in front of them. "What are you doing here? Why aren't I meeting you at the train station?"

"Hermione, what have we told you about rambling?" My father held my shoulders at arms distance. I bowed my head in what I hoped he would interpret as humility. "To answer your question; your Professor Dumbledore has asked us here." A cloud crossed his face to quickly for me to interpret. "Any technical questions will have to be answered by him." he hugged me briefly then stepped aside for my mother to greet me.

"Richard, please," Mother ran her hand over the top of my head, "Let's not keep the headmaster waiting any longer."

"Of course, Darcy," He offered mother his arm, "Professor McGonagall, Please lead the way."

"I trust that Hermione has been well behaved this year." Mother shot me a warning glance.

"Miss Granger is not only an exceptional student," McGonagall lead the way to the Gargoyle staircase, "She is also a leading example of proper ladylike behaviour. Lemon drops." To my parents' credit they barely started when the statue moved out of their way. McGonagall motioned for us to go first, as we rounded the corner I heard her sigh heavily, "You should come along Mr. Malfoy, your parents are waiting for you."

Great, now what has Harry done? I thought to myself. A meeting with my parents and the Malfoys, I am not going to take the blame for anything? Father knocked on the heavy door to Professor Dumbledore's private office. "Come in," sounded the mildly raspy voice from the other side. The door opened on its own, big surprise, revealing not only the headmaster and Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy, but also Professor Snape and a Ministry official with a rather sour look on his face.

"Ah, Miss Granger, how nice to see you, and these must be your parents." Professor Dumbledore stretched his wrinkled hand out to my father, "What a pleasure it is to meet you." He stepped back, "This is Judge Lynn from the ministry he will be processing all of the forms and overseeing the proceedings." Before I could ask what these proceeding might be Dumbledoor had moved on. "This is Professor Snape our potions professor. And these, as I'm sure you know, are Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy." I blinked several times at my parents but both of their faces were perfect masks, "Ah, young Mr. Malfoy, how kind of you to be willing to join us." Malfoy neither looked kind nor willing, "I don't suppose that you remember Doctor and Doctor Granger?" Draco looked as confused as I felt and only managed to shake is head.

Judge Lynn finished shaking everyone's hand- he had a weak grasp and his hands were cold and damp, like a dead fish- before clearing his throat. "Now while I'm sure we would like to get this under way," He began in a monotone to rival Professor Binns, "I assume that the young people will have many questions to ask before anything is legalized. As such I will excuse myself to the kitchens for an hour so that you may all have a bit of privacy to discuss this."

"Oh excellent idea," Professor Dumbledore stood, "you simply must try their lemon tarts, they are scrumptious. Severus, Minerva, perhaps you two would also like a snack." neither professor seemed keen on the idea but followed the professor out anyway. I became increasingly nervous as I was sorely out numbered in the field of magic.

"Draco, dear," Mrs. Malfoy turned to her son, "Let's have a seat over here." She guided him to a couch where they both perched and where Mr. Malfoy stood behind.

Mum placed her hand on the small of my back and sat with me sandwiched between her and father facing the Malfoys. "Do tell me Narcissa, how have you been since we last spoke? I understand that you have been quite busy socially."

"Oh indeed I have, the work of a woman is never done." the two older women tittered, much as I had seen my mother do at teas and parties. "And you, Jean, I hear that you had dinner with the queen just last month. A pity that Hermione will never be able to dine with her majesty. I believe that she would do quite well in the royal court. You have done well in educating her to behave like a lady. And she's such a pretty girl."

"As I understand it, beauty runs in her family." Dad cut in, "Strong pure jeans always result in beautiful children. Your own Draco is quite the elegant young man."

The room started to spin as I realized that the adults were kissing up to each other, "Mother," I barely managed to whisper, "Is this a business transaction?"

I glanced at Draco, he was already staring at me, as our eyes locked, whatever colour still remained in his face drained and his mouth gaped, "Father?" I tore my eyes away from him to study the older Malfoy.

"Yes, I suppose this is a bit of a business transaction." he smiled coolly down at me, I suddenly felt like a fly in a spider's web.

"You children shouldn't look so frightened." Father patted my knee, "Hermione is a part of the Malfoy family."

"I don't believe it!" Draco jumped to his feet, "Is that what the official and the professors are here for?" He turned to his father and drew himself up to his full height, taller than even when he was showing off, "I will not marry that mud-blood!"

At that word three things happened at once; our mothers both shrieked his name and began to scold him, Mr. Malfoy slapped him and my father grabbed my arms to keep me from casting the bat-boogie hex on Malfoy junior. "Don't you ever say that word again, you ungrateful brat!" Mr. Malfoy snarled at his now cowed son. He manually turned his son around and forced him to sit back down. "I do apologize, Doctor Granger, for my son's ignorant behaviour, honestly I have no idea where he picks up such language." Sure you don't.

"It's quite understandable, considering what he shouted." Dad smiled down at Malfoy who seemed to be intently studying the toe of his shoes, while in reality he was glaring at me through his lashes.. "However, you needn't worry, young man, we are not arranging a marriage between the two of you. Actually, I am unaware of wizardry tradition,but in our world we wouldn't be allowed to marry you even if we wanted to." He inhaled deeply before continuing, "You see you two are first cousins." Neither of us interrupted; I was too stunned and Draco probably afraid of getting slapped again. Dad continued, "Hermione, my sweet darling, I wish there were an easier way to explain all of this to you but you weren't always Hermione Jean Granger." I looked up into his eyes, blinking back tears. I hoped desperately, that he was joking, but my hope was wasted. "Your mother and I tried for many years to have a baby but we couldn't conceive. Then one day out of the blue a couple showed up on our door step with a little bundle."

"The first Wizarding War had just ended," Mrs. Malfoy leaned slightly forward and reached for my hands. In an attempt to be cordial I allowed her to hold them. "We needed someone outside of the magical world to care for you. You needed to be protected from those that would seek to harm you because of your affiliation with accused Death Eaters." Her eyes clouded slightly with tears, "You were such a special baby, even more so than the Potter boy, so we took a page from Dumbledore's book and sent you away from where you could be used by those who would do you harm. We didn't have any family in the muggle world, naturally, so we searched for a couple who wanted a child but were forced to adopt."

"It was fortunate that we were able to find your parents," Mr. Malfoy interjected, "They were able to raise you as their own with all of the comforts and mannerisms that Pure-blood witches are privileged with." He turned to my father, "Tell me, Richard, how many Governesses did she have? I understand that muggle children can be quite terrible to their teachers."

Dad chuckled, "Actually, Hermione only had one governess after she turned six, before that she had an excellent nanny who instilled in her a love of learning by reading textbooks to her. After she turned six we tried to put her into muggle school, but as is so common with your family, obviously," he nodded at Malfoy, "She was so far ahead of her peers that we took her out of school and employed several tutors."

"Several tutors?" Malfoy interrupted, "Why did she have several?"

"She had a tutor for each subject, one came each day and would teach her at a level usually reserved for teenagers and university students." Dad smiled down at me, "Of course, you, Draco, had several retired Hogwarts and University professors as well, am I correct?"

Draco's jaw flexed as he tried not to smirk, "I was taught some mathematics and a bit of the language arts."

"Ah excellent." Dad clasped his hands together, "It will be wonderful for Hermione to study and spend time with someone on her own intellectual level. I do like her friends that she has now but she does need someone to challenge her."

"Believe me, Dad," I finally found my voice, "I find Malfoy challenging enough."

Dad laughed loudly, "Of course you do! You are both so similar, I'm surprised that you don't openly compete more."

"She probably likes to feel like the smartest person in the room." Malfoy mumbled under his breath.

"I highly doubt that." Mother raised her eyebrow, much like a Malfoy would, "She just enjoys learning. I believe she would make an excellent teacher some day. Hermione, don't you tutor those friends of yours, Harry and Ron?"

At the mention of the boys I tried to stand, "Oh no! I promised the boys that I would meet them at the train!" I turned toward the door and stepped away from this impossible conversation.

"Hermione!" Mr. Malfoys quick bark stopped me in my tracks, I braced for a stupefy. "Please have a seat young lady." He placed his cold hands on my shoulders and forced me to turn around. "We have already informed misters potter and weasley that you will be unable to make the train. They are under the impression that you have flooed to the ministry in America where you will be apprenticed under a genius wand maker there." He guided me back to my seat between mother and father.

I chanced a glance at Malfoy, his fingers fidgeted on his knees and his jaw twitched minutely. How could someone like that be related to me? "If I'm not Really a Granger, what is my name?"

Narcissa forced a smile, "You are Hydra Druella of the most Ancient and Noble House Black."

"Black?" Draco and I exclaimed together. he clamped his mouth shut and almost nodded at me to speak first, "My last name is Black? Am I Sirius daughter?"

Narcissa flinched and Mr. Malfoy tilted his chin angrily, "Certainly not." He huffed, "You are the only daughter of my wife's sister, Bellatrix Lestrange.