Chapter 1
She was running through the dark trying to escape. Her heart thumping in her chest. Her ragged breath as she carefully tried to pick her way across the minefield of the roots of the looming trees. She could faintly hear the lake in the distance. She quickly glanced down at the sleeping child in her arms. The child had a look of innocence painted on her face as she slept in the black blankets surrounding her, cuddling her soft toy unicorn and sucking her thumb. The woman's tears started to flow more as she looked at the perfect 5 year old child swaddled in slumber.
"Where do you think you're going Bella?" called a bone chilling voice. Bella stopped and swivelled around, her hair flying in the wind framing her face. She held the child closer to her chest, hoping the little black bundle wouldn't wake. Her wand at the ready for attack.
"Really Bella i thought you would be enjoying Regulus's little entrance in to the group. It means you can have another man wrapped around your little finger. Though you can't have me. "Yaxleys voice echoed around the little area. Bellatrix didn't flinch but instead brought her precious cargo closer hoping that because the blankets were black he wouldn't notice the sleeping child. She held her wand out in plain view. Yaxley smirked and started to walk closer.
"But i hear he may have already had you. You whore. Tut tut bella your standards are failing. I do wonder what they see in you. No wonder you were in his house when we arrived with our little surprise. "Bella was fuming but also worried. Although he had now stopped moving towards her she was hoping that he couldn't see the sleeping child. She wasn't going to give any chances and started to laugh in her usual fake cackle though panic was creeping in a lacing it at the end.
"Now now, yaxley you know me i would never touch a black, let alone regulus, the brother of a blood traitor" the words sounded sour on her tongue. "I was at his house to give him my own little welcoming gift for joining the ranks. I thought a crucio would suffice don't you?" She almost winced at the image of her casting an unforgivable at regulus but put it at the back of her mind more important things to take care of.
"Now yaxley if you don't mind i have much more important things to attend to than talking to the likes of a snivelling suck up. My sexual escapades are a pretty boring subject as i will only ever be faithful to my husband and i have never touched another man. You're just jealous that i am an object of men's desires being the only female death eater. You want them to lust over you instead. We all know your secret we are just waiting for that closet door to open" bellatrix said coolly. Yaxley went red and held up his wand towards her
"Why you slut how dare you say that you whore. You have no right!" he said gruffly. Bellatrix looked at him; her eyes becoming a piecing black that you could see glisten in the dark night like a star.
"I should curse you for that language yaxley!" she screeched "however you are a lucky son of a bitch today as i have to go. Nice chat darling. Too da Lu!" bellatrix blew him a kiss and apparated away leaving a confused yaxley.
When bellatrix landed she quickly put a disillusionment charm and a shield around the little girl and herself. She had landed in a dark alleyway and could see the streetlight ahead basking the pavement in an orange glow. Keeping to the shadows she quickly hurried into the heart to Belsize Park.
She quickly found no. 3 and ran up the steps. Knocking on the gold lion knocker on the scarlet door.
"Bella what are you going here?" the man asked as he opened the door.
Tim was sitting in the comfy armchair when he heard the knock as his door.
"Tim honey could you get that?" called Helena from the kitchen. He looked at the clock. He wondered why someone was knocking at 8 o'clock at night. He put the newspaper down and headed for the door. When he opened it he found a deraggled bellatrix clutching to her chest nothing other than the small 5 year little girl who had visited him only a couple of days ago.
"Bella what are you doing here?" he asked worried as he pulled her inside and then took her cloak. However when he tried to help her by taking the sleeping girl off her she cowered into the corner, tears streaking down her face.
"Tim who was it?" asked Helena as she came out of the kitchen. She gasped when her eyes fell on her friend. "Oh bells what's happened?" and rushed over to them guiding her into the lounge and onto the sofa.
"I just tried to help her by taking little Seraphina and she cowered into the corner away from me" Tim said worried.
"Ok there now shush" Helena said soothingly to bellatrix "Tim go and get my mother from upstairs and gets some tea and biscuits" Tim nodded and ran out of the door.
"Now Bella darling what's happened?" Helena asked sitting on the coffee table opposite her friend placing a hand on bellatrix's knee. Bella looked up, her eyes showing fear and sadness.
"They got him" bellatrix started with a raspy voice. Tears fells over her cheeks. "They found him and branded ..." she trailed off and then looked down at the little girl. " Sirius and Cissy took, "
"Go on Bella honey, Cissy took..." Helena said encouragingly
"Cissy took Zachary and Draco to safety and I brought saffy here. They couldn't find out about me and regulus. They would have killed my babies and me. "Bellatrix sobbed "Regulus may be dead and so may be Zachary and I couldn't stop them" she was hysterical now and her sobs racked the whole of her body. Helena looked shocked and grasped her friend into a tight hug.
"Shhh everything will be fine they will be. Cissy would have taken them to Hogwarts and regulus will be fine. No one saw you and so no one will find out. Now let me take this little angel upstairs to the spare room and you sit here." Helena said firmly pointing at the seat. She picked up the little girl though bellatrix was reluctant to let her go. Tim returned with a tray of tea and biscuits and McGonagall entered the room
"Oh bellatrix are you alright?" asked McGonagall
"She's had an evening mum but will are going to sort everything out." Helena replied as she exited the room. Tim poured out the tea and handed a cup to the frail witch on the sofa and his headstrong mother in law. Bellatrix's hands were shaking so much that she placed the cup on the coffee table so that it wouldn't spill. She then told her story again to McGonagall and Tim who frowned and comforted her.
"What am I going to do?" cried Bella as Helena came back into the room. "I have to have them safe. They have to be safe. I won't be able to live if something happens to them." Her head in her hands.
McGonagall stood up "bellatrix black look at me" she said sternly and bellatrix looked up at her past teacher and mentor, and godmother. "Pull yourself together this instant. I know you want to protect your children but you were not brought up to be like this. Where is your Gryffindor courage? You may have been in slytherin at Hogwarts however you asked to be. I know full well which house you were supposed to be in and at this moment you aren't showing any of that Gryffindor courage you should have." Bellatrix nodded.
"Sorry auntie Minnie. I was being stupid but Seraphina, Zachary and regulus mean everything to me."
"Well drink your tea and let's talk about this. We have realised that you can't keep living like you have been, pretending that you are married to that lestrange fellow when you are actually married to Regulus and have his two children. Little Zachary and Seraphina need to be hidden and hidden well so that no one can find them if those deatheaters get any hint of children. "McGonagall started as she handed back bellatrix her tea.
"When it comes to you and regulus I know why you have kept your marriage a secret and that is because of your adoption and because you both work for the order undercover. "
"Where is Zachary hiding?" asked Helena anxiously. Bellatrix wiped her eyes
"Zach is being taken to Severus at Hogwarts where I can them look after him later on. Dumbledore and the ministry have planned a "fake arrest" for me so that I disappear off the map for a while and spend time with him and regulus hopefully if they haven't gotten hurt. I just don't know what to do with Seraphina. The bond is so powerful that I can't let them be anywhere near each other for the time being as it will give it away. Also she looks the splitting image of me whereas Zach can be easily passed off with difficulty as a zambini or a distant cousin of Regulus's as he is his father's son. Regulus has decided to with the help of James, lily, Sirius and lupin to fake his own death so that he also becomes nonexistent. He will then set up residence with Zach while I still play the act as a deatheater while gathering information for the order."
McGonagall frowned. She nodded all the way through. Tim who was standing by the fireplace was the only one who hadn't said a word. Time passed and they discussed various options about seraphinas care. Helena had gone to check on saffy while Minerva went to get a fresh pot of tea.
"Bella..." started Tim. Bella looked up. Tim hadn't said anything throughout this dilemma and had had a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Yes Tim"
"I have an idea about seraphinas care." He looked at the witch across the room. Bellatrix looked at him with curiosity and explanation. "I know a family" he started. "A half muggle family who many live in the muggle world. They found out that they can't have children and well they would so love to have a child. I'm sure Seraphina could stay there and she would be safe and loved. I know that Helena already treats saffy like her own daughter..." he looked at her for a response and was met instead with a fierce hug
"Oh Tim you would do that for me. You would care for my little baby!" bellatrix cried just as Helena re-entered the room.
"What's going on?" Helena asked. "Saffy's alright by the way still fast asleep; she had just dropped the unicorn so I put it back next to her."
Bellatrix and Tim broke apart and looked at Helena.
" Hellie I have decided and I know I have without your consent but I think that the best way for saffy to be safe is for her to live with us and bellatrix has agreed and said that we should bring her up as our own. I know you have always wanted children" Helena ran over and hugged him and then hugged bellatrix.
"Oh bells oh thank you. She will be so safe and loved." Both women were crying
"I know she wills hell I know she will. I want you to bring her up and since you are her godmother I don't think that will be hard. I'll pay for all the expenses and for her care. Anything to keep my little girl safe. "She hugged her best friend tighter.
Bellatrix wiped her eyes before her mark started to burn. She clutched onto her arm.
"I have to go. Let me say goodbye to her." She croaked and Helena and she walked up the stairs to the little bedroom.
The pain was searing and bellatrix started to see black spots form in front of her eyes. However she looked down at her sleeping daughter and smiled. Knowing that this might be the last time she ever saw her Seraphina again. She kissed her daughters forehead and tucked her in.
"Helena can you do something so me?" bellatrix whispered. Helena nodded "don't tell her about me until the time is right. I don't want her to be ashamed of me. I will try and come back for her when it is completely safe. "Helena was about to protest but bellatrix cut her off. " I also want you not call her Seraphina. She loves her middle name Hermione and it won't be hard for her to adjust to that." Helena nodded as bellatrix doubled over in pain. Helena ran from the room to get some potions in the bathroom for the pain. Bellatrix stroked seraphinas cheek and raised her wand casting glamour charms to make her daughter look like Tim and Helena but also rewrote a couple of her memories changing her name to Hermione.
"Night night sweetheart. Mamma loves you so much and will be back for you as soon as she can with Draco and Zachary and daddy. "She kissed the child's cheek and disaparated.
...
The battle in the department of mysteries
Hermione's ears still rang with the fanatical laugh of the deatheaters and she looked up at lucius malfoy and bellatrix lestrange. Bellatrix's eyes pierced her and when the deatheater gazed on the little Gryffindor a look of shock shot across her face before she changed back to her look to evil glare. Hermione caught this but when she looked at the others they hadn't seemed to notice the deatheater's strange look at her.
"You need more persuasion?" bellatrix said, her chest rising and falling rapidly "very well- take the smallest one" she ordered the death eaters beside her "let him watch while we torture the little girl. I'll do it."
Hermione could feel everyone start to crowd around Ginny however bellatrix was vaguely pointing at her with her wand. Hermione didn't know what to do and how to react. She was smaller than Ginny but as Ginny was younger she must have thought that bellatrix had meant her. When Hermione looked up into the deatheater's eyes again she saw a look of fear and concern but something else hidden by the evil glare, a look of love. Hermione shook her head.
The next thing she knew they were running and the glass orbs were flying everywhere. She ran trying to escape shouting stupefy whenever she could.
They had ended up in the room of brains however before she could run through someone grabbed her from behind pulling her into the shadows.
"Shhh everything's trying to save you." whispered her captor. Hermione wanted to scream however when she opened it she couldn't speak. She tried to wriggle free but the grip on her was too strong. "Don't worry you can join your friends in a moment granger but I don't want you to get killed!" Hermione whimpered at realisation, it was Draco's voice. Suddenly Sirius and bellatrix walked into the empty room they were in.
"Hermione are you alright?" asked Sirius as he came over. Draco let go of Hermione and she found she had her voice back.
"Sirius..." she panted "bella... bellatrix behind you. Run" Sirius looked at bellatrix who nodded and then back at her.
"Hermione bellatrix isn't going to hurt you she wants to keep you safe." Sirius said solemnly. Hermione looked at him with disbelief. Draco stepped out of the shadows and he and bellatrix all looked at the Gryffindor as she processed everything through her head.
"You're lying" Hermione growled and pointed her wand at Sirius. "You aren't Sirius you're an imposter!" she cried. Draco walked up to her and threw his wand onto the ground.
"Now Hermione if I was going to hurt you why would have just thrown my wand onto the ground. Sirius is right. We have to keep you safe for you are important. The malfoys and blacks work for the order undercover." he then got out of his robes a silver orb. The same one harrys was holding. Hermione gasped "this is the real prophecy. I have created two duplicates. Potter has got one and dolohov has one. This is the real one. Now I'm going to give it to you and you are going to take it and run away from here to the order headquarters where you can give it to potter and weasley. "Hermione nodded and Draco handed her the orb. She still had a look of fear on her face but Sirius was smiling at her encouragingly.
" now when you Sirius and bellatrix go back into the fight my father and potter are going to drop one of the fake orbs to make it seems like the prophecy is broken. " Draco said seriously.
"Hermione dear we have a plan to ensue your safety and to make sure that the world knows that voldermort has returned. You are going to watch me die and the minute I step into that veil you are going to run. You hear me run. No staying behind to help. You may be a smart witch..."
"Sirius the smartest witch" growled bellatrix. Sirius nodded
"sorry the smartest witch but don't try to help. You have an important task and that is to run with the real prophecy. Do not mention that you saw Draco, bellatrix and I try to help you. just say that you saw bellatrix duplicate the prophecy but you fought her and got it off her. Ok?"
Hermione nodded scared and Sirius hugged her. Hermione looked back over bellatrix and she smiled weakly and rubbed her arms as if trying to hold back on something.
"come on granger lets go we need to escape. Where's your Gryffindor courage? I'm sure your parents didn't bring you up to crack up" said Draco as he pulled her out of the hug and to the door. They opened it and the fight ensued.
Hermione didn't know Sirius wasn't actually dead but she decided to follow his instructions although she was confused. She ran down through the many corridors and into the lift which they had to used to get in. She could feel the tears streaking down her face.
Hermione woke up with a jerk. She remembered that night clearly. Her forehead was drenched with sweat. She looked around her room. The bedside lamp was still on where she had fallen asleep while reading. Everything seemed to be in order. Her desk covered in papers and books. On top her new head girl badge gleamed. Pictures of her with harry, Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna smiled at her on the walls and the couple of muggle photos of her when she was 7 standing in the hallway of her house dressed up still in her nightdress.
Hermione looked down at the book she was reading. Since she could remember she had loved to read and when she had started Hogwarts her parents had decided that their daughter should have every wizarding book she wanted so that her thirst could be quenched.
Her parents. Well you could say they are. Hermione was told she was adopted when she 5 years old on her ninth birthday. She of course didn't speak with them for a week after the news but then realised that even though they weren't her real parents they still loved her more than anything. Tim and Helena granger though still puzzled her as they had said they had never met her birth parents but whenever Hermione threw a rage or acted in a certain way, Helena would always say: she is just like her mother. It's like going through my school years again.
Hermione had never asked of course to Helena about her birth parents that much because Helena would always go glassy eyed and it was hard to translate what she was saying through the sobs. With Tim the answer was always the same. I didn't know your birth parents. We found you our doorstep. Our little miracle. My princess.
Hermione looked at her book again. Pureblood families through the ages by Marcus Carter. She found it fascinating and the book was dated to the present day. She remembered finishing about the zambinis and parkinsons before falling asleep. Now she turning the page came to the "the noble and ancient house of black" as kreacher had called it. She started to read with curiosity. She had always wondered what Sirius's family was like.
The Black family who are also known as the "most ancient and noble house of Black" are the wealthiest and most powerful pureblood family. Their ancestors were one of the founding wizard family and helped create the wizard world and community by creating diagon alley and the ministry of magic and helped build the foundations of Hogwarts with the four great witches and wizards themselves. They also created several wizarding villages for witches and wizards throughout the ages. The black family is connected to nearly every other wizarding family in the world as they used to rule over Britain. Famous black family members include Perseus Black who was the first minister of magic and head of the British wizarding world, Cassiopeia black who was the first woman quidditch player and Phillnellius black, the last Black member who was a headmaster of Hogwarts. Most people believe that the Black family is extinct because it appears that both of the last Black brothers Regulus and Sirius are deceased, however according to many sources are still alive. However due to the wizarding wars and he shall not be named they proclaimed themselves as deceased so that they could do reconnaissance work for the order of the Phoenix. Famous woman of the Black family include Narcissa Black who is married to Luicius Malfoy (malfoys page 300) who worked undercover for the order of the phoenix and oldest daughter of the deceased Reginal Black. Her sister Andromeda Black is also famous as she is mother of Nymphodora Tonks member of the Order...
Hermione was puzzled. She knew that the Black family was powerful and extremely wealthy. That was common sense. However the Book was implying that Regulus and Sirius were still alive! She also thought puzzling that bellatrix hadn't been mentioned at all and nearly everyone knew about Hermione thought that bellatrix was the oldest black sister and daughter of Reginal Black. She carried on reading.
...the black family are said to be one of the only families to be so controversial over purity of blood, with each generation changing the view. This led to uproar in recent history with the apparent spilt between the black brothers regulus and Sirius as Sirius was against the concept of blood purity and openly fought against it whereas Regulus was not. However what most people don't know is that Regulus was also against the cause but as he was already working undercover for the order without his family knowing except his father and cousins Narcissa and Andromeda, he became the loyal son and was a deatheater in he who shall not be named army.
Regulus Black is the head of the black family at the moment and has been commemorated for his contribution for the downfall of he who shall not be named. He married when he was 15 to Bellatrix D'Urbervilles (for the D'Urbervilles page 407).The marriage one of the most famous pureblood love affairs and stories of the ages. Bellatrix Black is known for being sister to Narcissa and Andromeda black however this is not true and instead Narcissa, Andromeda and bellatrix were close friends. Regulus and Bellatrix not wanting to show their marriage to the wizarding world at this dangerous time pretended to be cousins instead of husband and wife throughout their lives. This helped when he who shall not be named came to power both could work undercover for the order and be deatheaters without the other getting hurt or their young family. Bellatrix Black is also against blood purity and thought it was one of the most disgusting ideas known to man. Bellatrix black is now known as Bellatrix Lestrange by many people as she pretended to marry Rodolphus lestrange. (lestrange page 500) Rodolphus actually is a good friend of the Blacks and worked undercover for the order.
Regulus and Bellatrix had triplets when they were 16. Bellatrix's pregnancy was carefully hidden as she was still at Hogwarts. She gave birth on the 20th August to two baby boys and baby girl. Zachary Phillnellius black, Benjamin Reginal Black and Seraphina Hermione Black. Tragedy struck on the night of the 14th November 1999 as Regulus was branded as a deatheater. However that was not the tragedy. The tragedy was that bellatrix had to place her children in hiding. She placed Zachary and Benjamin in the care of Sirius black and Severus snape. However Benjamin was wounded during the escape causing paralysis in his legs. Seraphina was placed into the care of a close friend, Helena the daughter of Professor McGonagall. When Bellatrix was supposedly arrested however there is evidence this was a plot to keep her off the map and regulus' supposed death they reunited with their sons. However they could not bring little seraphina home as it was too dangerous due to her having immense powers. Bellatrix and Regulus believed it would be best for their daughter to not be wanted in any way by him who shall not be named and so have kept her in hiding...
Hermione was gobsmacked and looked at the glossy pictures next to the writing. There was one of bellatrix and Regulus dancing. It was bellatrix lestrange and she was smiling and looking into her husband's eyes lovingly. There was also a picture of regulus with a two little boys who couldn't be older than 3 who had jet black hair and was laughing on his knee. one was wearing maroon shorts and a red, white and green polo shirt and the other was wearing green dungarees with a blue shirt underneath. the man was looking down at his sons adoringly was in black slacks and a white shirt. The boys looked a lot like regulus and Sirius.
"they do look like a blacks" she muttered to herself and she then looked at the picture of bellatrix holding the little girl. The little girl had dark brown/ black curly hair in a bob with it half tied back by a red ribbon and was dressed in a dark blue velvet dress with white tights and little red velvet shoes. The little girl looked a lot like bellatrix. They had the same heavy lidded black eyes which glinted in the light and the pale complexion. Bellatrix was wearing a silk silver dress. Her hair was long cascading curls and she had the biggest smile on her face as she looked girl at her daughter hugging her as she sat on her lap. The little girl was smiling at the camera but then hugged her mother and gave her a kiss on the cheek. One expected from a three year old.
She was the most adorable child Hermione had ever seen and thought that if she had a daughter she would want her to be as adorable. It was the child's smile and eyes that made Hermione smile to herself. The black eyes were piercing and had so much depth to them. It was like the child had so much wisdom and knowledge.
Hermione carried on looking through the pictures. There were more. There was little seraphina again looking about 4 years old laughing while holding her arms out as if she wanted the person behind the camera to pick her up. This time she was wearing a pink dress with butterflies on. Another was of Seraphina, Zachary, Benjamin, bellatrix and regulus and what also looked like Draco luicus and narcissa. The children were dressed up in Halloween costumes. Seraphina was snow white; Zachary was a ghost and had placed a white bed sheet over his head with holes for eyes nose and mouth cut out. However on the sheet he had drawn himself and so it looked like his actual face. Draco were dressed up in little Quidditch uniforms for the England team carrying his toy broom and Benjamin was dressed as a dragon .Each one had a pumpkin shaped bucket for sweets.
Hermione glanced over at her clock. It was 19th of August and tomorrow would be her birthday. She thought it was odd that her birthday was on the same day as the little girl who had never seen again parents for 12 years of her life and may never see them again. The little girl with black eyes. She quickly read the last paragraph before heading to the shower.
... Seraphina Black is now 16 and it is rumoured that she will be reunited with her family when she turns 17 as she will be of age. Also as she was close friends with Draco malfoy the heir to the Malfoy family when she was younger who shares the same birthday as her, when he is 17 he will go and look for her as he feels it is his duty.
Hermione read thoughtfully biting her lip.
"malfoy must have been really good friends with them then if he feels it is his duty to find her. Probably so that she can be at the wedding of him and pug faced Parkinson" she snorted and got up and headed for her ensuite bathroom.
She had a cold shower and hummed to herself as she washed her hair. When she came out she grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her taking her wand and magicking away the steam from the mirror. She looked at her reflection.
Hermione had changed a lot of the last couple of months since the battle. Her hair had become gradually darker and the bushiness had disappeared leaving curls. Her body had toned down as well. There wasn't an ounce of fat on her and she was slim. She ran a hand down her hour glass figure. Girls she knew would be envious of her figure and guys would drool over it. However no one knew that granger, bookworm had this kind of body. She smirked to herself. Her complexion had changed as well. She had a paler complexion and had higher cheek bones. She was now a C cup rather than her original d cup and she swore that her eyes were gradually getting darker. She quickly got dressed into some black skinny jeans and tank top, Magicking her hair dry and tying it up into a messy bun. Some locks escaped and framed her face.
"Hermione darling breakfast" called Helena granger from the kitchen.
"coming!" Hermione called back as she quickly applied some makeup. Over the summer she had really grown up and had thrown away the bushy haired book worm granger everybody used to know. She had started to wear more fashionable clothes and even wore some makeup.
She ran down the stairs taking some black stilettos with her and her book. She had lived in the London town house in Belsize Park for as long as she could remember and nothing had really changed. She walked into the kitchen to find her father sitting at the table reading the times and the daily prophet was on the table. her mother was cooking some scrambled eggs and bacon. Hermione sat down.
"morning princess" called Tim as he turned the page. Hermione started to read her book, Re reading the section on the black family and looking at the photos.
"here we are" said Helena as she gave Hermione and Tim a plate each full bacon, eggs, toast and sausages. She then sat down herself with her cup of tea.
"did you have a nice sleep darling?" asked mrs granger. Hermione nodded as she nibbled on her toast while reading her book.
"good I'm pleased. What book are you reading?" she continued as she flicked through the daily prophet.
"oh just a book on pureblood families through the ages. It's really interesting as it shows all of the ups and downs and secrets of the families. At the moment I'm on the blacks" Tim's fork clattered onto the table. Hermione looked up to see her mother have a strained smile on her face and Tim look gobsmacked
"what what's wrong?" asked Hermione.
"Where did you get that book from?" asked Tim, his voice raspy. Helena left the room.
"I got it at the bookshop. It's to give me some background knowledge this year for history of magic. We're studying famous wizards and witches as well as the wizarding families through the ages." Hermione replied "why what's wrong with it? There's nothing wrong with pureblood families. The weasleys are pureblood. "Tim didn't say anything.
Helena came back into the room holding a small shoebox and a green light could be faintly seen from the living room opposite. She sat back down at the table and slowly opened the box while tears were streaming down her face.
"mum what's wrong it's just a book? You've let me read worse things" Hermione said confused.
"it isn't that honey at all. It's just that we've been keeping something from you and now we think it might be the right time to tell you of your parents. "Helena said quietly, dabbing her eyes with her handkerchief. Hermione nodded for them to continue.
"well you see darling. I'm not a muggle I'm a witch and I went to Hogwarts with your mother." Helena started. "your mother was my best friend and together her, narcissa, lily and I were inseparable. "
"you were friends with Narcissa and lily?" Hermione asked in disbelief
"well of course we were. We were all so close. Narcissa and your mother were in slytherin while lily and I were in Gryffindor. However there is some mystery over your mother's house. You see my mother is her godmother and when your mother was sorted she asked to be sorted into slytherin. Not because she was a stuck up snob but because your mother was smart and knew that if she was ever going to help bring down voldermort she would have use everything in her power to do it even if it meant she would have to sacrifice her house. She was supposed to be in Gryffindor. "Helena opened the box and box of several girls in Hogwarts uniform smiling and laughing at the camera. She handed them to Hermione.
"really ok then. Why didn't you ever tell me you knew her?" Hermione asked. It was Tim who spoke this time.
"You see princess the night your mother came here with you she asked us to promise not to tell you about her or your father until the time was right and you were completely safe. She wanted you to be protected. Also she wasn't sure you would ever forgive her for what she did to you and what she has done. She has had to do many different things to keep you safe and to bring down voldermort. Because we are your godparents we agreed. "
"But that is absurd she is my mother and I'm sure that she had good reasons for doing what she had to do. It can't be that bad. "Hermione said laughing nervously. Tim and Helena looked at each other.
"What is her name? Will I ever be able to meet her and my father?" Hermione croaked as she now tried to hold back tears. Helena grasped hermoine's hand.
"of course my darling. We want you to meet them. They are the most loving and caring people in the world you love you more than anything. I know that they have missed you so much." Tears started to slide down Hermione's cheeks. A voice could be heard from the other room.
"hellie? Tim?" the voice called softly. Helena looked up.
"I asked them to come today as it is the day before your birthday and since that book I think it is the right time. They must be here now." Helena said and then hugged Hermione "just remember that Tim and I love you more than anything and although you aren't ours we love you as our own and always will. You're our princess" Hermione nodded as she cried.
Hermione could hear voices in the lounge opposite of a man and a woman talking in hushed whispers. She got up from the table and wiped her eyes clean making sure that her makeup hadn't run.
"don't worry we're right behind you." said Tim as he got up as well and patted her shoulder. Helena started to make some tea. The breakfasts on the table were untouched.
Hermione started to walk across the hall to the door to the lounge which had been pulled too. The hushed whispers had gotten louder.
"what if she hates me? Oh I know she will. She will never be able to forgive me. I..." said a female voice.
"love it won't be that bad. we must expect some reaction whether good or bad and we know that Tim and Helena have brought her up to be the most beautiful, smart, courageous, caring; loving young lady and that is all we asked for. She will understand in time" the man's voice replied.
Hermione felt that crossing the hall of her house was the longest journey that she had ever had to take in her life. She had her hand on the door knob and knocked taking in a deep breath. When she opened it she was faced with her living room which was adorned with Gryffindor colours with two figures she would never expect in her life to be in there.
Regulus Black leant against the fireplace and was looking at the photos of Hermione when she was 10 and 11. On her first day at Hogwarts. He was wearing a dark blue suit with a white shirt underneath. His hair was like Sirius's and they looked very similar however regulus looked almost younger than Sirius although he was a year older. He looked tired but had a smile on his face. Bellatrix was sitting on the sofa her back upright. She was wearing a deep purple corseted dress. Her hair was not as Hermione remembered. It was in a chiffon however many of the locks were framing her face. She looked very similar to Hermione. Both looked up when she knocked and bellatrix stood up.
Hermione was shocked and looked at her parents. Bellatrix had a tear sliding down her cheek as she watched Hermione.
"hello Hermione" it was regulus who spoke first. Hermione shifted her attention to him. he was smiling at her. She stepped forward a little closer. Tim hut the door leaving the three of them in the room. Hermione heard the door shut.
"Come and sit down darling and we can talk" said bellatrix quietly as she slowly sat down again. Regulus sat in the chair that Tim usually sat in while he read the paper. Hermione nodded and sat down on the edge of the sofa facing her parents. Bellatrix still had silent tears running down her face.
"my name isn't Hermione is it?" she said looking at bellatrix. Her mother lifted her head and shook her head. Locking eyes with her daughter.
"no it isn't. Your name is ..."
"Seraphina I know" Hermione cut in a bit harshly. Bellatrix breathed in waiting for the attack. Regulus on the other hand had a smiling playing on his lips.
"Would you like me to take the glamour charm off fully and take off the memory charm?" bellatrix said in an almost inaudibly worried that her daughter would pounce on her and kill her. Bellatrix thought she deserved it for deserting her daughter. She had never forgiven herself. If only things had been different.
Hermione nodded her head slowly also worried. Bellatrix pulled out her wand and Hermione almost flinched. She used to think of that wand as pure evil for all of the unforgivable and curses it had cast over the years. Bellatrix pointed in her daughter and muttered a couple of words and Hermione felt funny as she felt tingles up her spine.
Suddenly she was overloaded with memories. She remembered cuddling up to her mother. Trying on her clothes and makeup and being found in the closet. Bellatrix hadn't minded of course and instead helped her gets down a coat and put on some lipstick and combed her hair. They then played dress up all day. She then remembered learning how to read with her father. Sitting on his lap in his study with Zach on the floor playing with some toy cars. Him reading to her.
She then remembered a blonde boy and the image of him smiling stayed there for a long time. He smiled and waved and hugged her giving her a flower. It was Draco.
When the memories stopped she looked back over at her mother and then to her father. Bellatrix looked worried and almost scarred she thought while she waited patiently. When she looked at her father however he looked calm and collected almost smirking. Hermione started to cry again and without thinking went and hugged her mother opposite her.
Bellatrix was shocked when her daughter embraced her but quickly adjusted and clung to her daughter hugging her fiercely back.
"oh my darling we've missed you so much. My little girl" said bellatrix as she stroked her daughter's hair. Hermione then went over and hugged her father.
"I thought you almost forget me" regulus said playfully "you're not that little thing anymore poppet. So beautiful" he kissed the top of her head as she hugged him. Hermione remembered that familiar smell of her father as she hugged him. peppermint, tea and old books.
When they broke apart Hermione and bellatrix sat next to each other on the sofa. Helena came in with some tea.
"oh hellie thank you so much. How can I ever repay you?" said bellatrix as she went to hug her best friend. Regulus just gave a knowing look to his daughter and rolled his eyes. Hermione chuckled. Teas were poured and while her adoptive mother and real mother were in deep conversation Hermione started to realise how her life was never going to be the same.
"um dad" she said quietly to regulus. He looked at her first a bit shocked but then smiled
"yes poppet?"
"what's going to happen now?"
"well you get to decide whether you want to come home with us or whether you want to stay here. also if you want to keep the name Hermione or go back to Seraphina. Whatever you decide your mother and I love you unconditionally and will fully support your decision." Regulus said smiling "we are ever so proud of you. we cannot believe you have achieved so much. A true black and yet so much like a D'Urbervilles." He chuckled.
