Hermione Granger had changed greatly over the past few years. Seven years ago, Harry Potter defeated Lord Voldemort, ending the Wizarding War but it had been so long since she had spoken to him—or spoken to anyone really. Six years since she had talked with anyone she had considered a friend, except for Remus and Dumbledore, Remus was the only friend she had left.
You may be wondering why Hermione hadn't spoken to or seen anyone. Well, Hermione had found out that the Grangers, whom she loved dearly, had adopted her. The Grangers had raised her and loved her perfectly, but she missed them. Mr. and Mrs. Granger were killed in Australia by a car crash.
Thankfully, though, Hermione found out who her biological family was and she wasn't the Muggleborn she had always thought she was, but a Pureblood! Not just any Pureblood, but the best of the best; a Malfoy!
Hermione knew that some of the Order members would be upset, since her biological family was hated by many but she had no control over who her parents were, surely her friends would understand? She was still Hermione after all, surely they would support her?
How wrong she was!
After overcoming the shock of finding out who her biological family was, Hermione went to tell those who meant the most to her. She also had some other news she had wanted to share with them. The Weasleys and other Order members had become a part of her wizarding family, and she held them all in the highest esteem. She loved them, but telling her wizarding family that she was truly a Malfoy did not go the way Hermione had planned. Many were shocked and furious, while others said nothing.
What hurt the most was when the man she loved with all of her heart stood from the table and told her to get her things and get out. He did not come to her defense as she had hoped, but condemned her like the others. Hearing those cruel words from him caused something inside of her to die— it broke her.
With the last remaining dignity she possessed, Hermione went upstairs and packed her things. She fought the tears, reminding herself to stay strong. She was Hermione Granger—err— Malfoy after all. When the last item was packed into her trunk, she went back downstairs, the trunk hovering behind her. Remus was by the door waiting for her. He told her that he didn't care who her family was; she would always be Hermione Granger to him. So with one last hug from her friend and mentor, Hermione took her leave from Grimmauld Place. She went to her brother's home since she had nowhere else to go. Her adoptive parents' house had been sold.
The memory of finding her biological parents played through her head.
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Hermione entered the headmaster's office wondering what could be so urgent. He had sent her a message saying he needed to speak with her immediately about something.
"Good morning, Hermione, my dear. It's nice to see you again," the Headmaster said, looking up from his paperwork.
"Hello, Headmaster, it's nice to see you as well," Hermione replied. She smiled as she took a seat in front of his desk.
"Call me Albus, dear. I haven't been your headmaster for a while." He chuckled softly.
"All right, Albus it is then. What was it you needed to speak to me about? It sounded urgent," Hermione asked, her voice taking on a serious tone.
"You know that you're adopted, correct?"Hermione's brow furrowed at his statement, "Well yes. I have known since my fifth year but with everything that was happening with the war, I never saw it as important enough to do the research and find out."
"I have been going to some old documents that I, well, probably should have already been taken care of long ago." He grinned mischievously at her.
Hermione let out a soft chuckle.
Clearing his throat, Albus continued. "I came across a document about a witch that had been given up for adoption at birth. This document closely matches your own paper work."
Hermione's jaw dropped in shock. "Are you telling me that you may have found my biological family?" she asked the headmaster eagerly.
Albus nodded. "Yes, Hermione, that is what I'm saying."
Hermione shifted in her chair, a multitude of emotions running through her. "Who?" was all she could ask.
"The Malfoy family, Hermione," Albus told her, an expression of pity on his face.
"I'm the daughter of Lucius Malfoy?" she asked nervously.
"No."Hermione looked at him in confusion.
"I believe you are Abraxas Malfoy's daughter, who would make Lucius your older brother," Albus clarified.
"Fabulous," she muttered, slouching back in her chair. A sigh escaped her lips. Out of all the families she could have possibly been born into… it just had to be the Malfoy family.
"Hermione, if you'd like, I could Floo Abraxas and Lucius and ask them to come here so we may find out the truth."
"How would that work, Albus?" Hermione questioned.
"There is a potion that could test both of your blood, if you are willing to do it," Albus explained.
Hermione paused for a moment before answering. Did she really want to know? She knew she'd seek out the answer at some point, so she made her decision. "Yes, Albus, I would like that. I'd hate to wonder what if later down the road."
"All right, Hermione. If you could step up the stairs and wait there please? I'll call them here." Albus smiled at her.Nodding, Hermione walked up the stairs and waited.
Hermione heard Albus Floo both Abraxas and Lucius. She peered around the corner to try and catch a peek. Moments later, the Floo activated and out stepped a man who looked exactly like Lucius, but older. She knew this had to be Abraxas Malfoy, her possible father. Coming out behind him was Lucius Malfoy, who looked much better now that the war was over.
"Dumbledore, it is a pleasure to see you again." The deep aristocratic voice of Abraxas Malfoy reached her ears. His voice like Lucius Malfoys only deeper.
"It is a pleasure to see you both as well. Abraxas, you told me to contact you if I ever found your daughter." Albus paused for a moment, looking in the older man's eyes. "I believe I have. If you would like, I can have a potion sent up to find out."
Abraxas perked up at Dumbledore's words. "Yes, please. I have been looking for her, but have not been successful. I do not know what happened to her, but wish too." He paused, taking in a shaky breath. "If I have a chance of getting her back, I will take it."
Albus nodded before turning to look at Lucius. "The young woman I have found may be of some concern to you. Please let's complete the test before you voice your thoughts."
Lucius looked confused, but nodded anyways.
The fire roared to life once more, Severus Snape stepping out. In his hands, he held a small vile containing a black potion. He raised a brow at both Malfoy men. "Abraxas, Lucius." He gave them both a nod, which they returned.
Turning to Albus, he held up the small vile. "Here is the potion you asked for, Headmaster."
"Wonderful!" Albus exclaimed, his eyes twinkling. "Let me just call her down and we shall do the test."The men nodded silently.
"Hermione?"Hearing her name, Hermione slowly came down the stairs and tentatively entered the room. Her eyes quickly landed on Lucius, who lifted a brow at her presence.
"Miss Granger," Severus said in greeting. "Mr. Malfoy, all we need from you and Miss. Granger is a drop of blood into this vile. If the potion turns gold, you are blood related. If it stays black, there's no relation." Severus pulled out his wand, whispering a spell to cut the tip of each of their fingers.
Dropping their blood into the vile, Hermione took a seat by Abraxas and felt her heart race nervously. Hermione wondered if Abraxas was as nervous as she was. She couldn't tell from his blank expression. They all held their breath as they watched the vile and as the potion slowly turned gold.
Hermione looked at her former potions professor, who looked as shocked as the rest of the room.
"Well, I believe Severus and I will step out to let you all speak." Albus stood from his desk leaving the room, his blue robes following behind him.
"Hermione?" Hermione looked up into her father's eyes, finding them watering. "I- I don't know what to say. I have been waiting for this moment for nineteen years."
She didn't know what came over her, but suddenly she felt the tears coming to her eyes. "Say what you need to say," she whispered, her voice cracking. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lucius take a seat, resting his forehead in his hands.
"I am sorry that I had to give you up. Voldemort was still at full power at the time, and I did not know what to do. All I knew, Hermione, is that I did not want you around him. The night you were born, I took you to a Muggle orphanage to make sure you would be adopted and taken care of. I returned a few nights later to give you something, but you had already been adopted and they wouldn't tell me where. I never knew where you went… your mother and I never even got to name you," his voice cracked. "All I can ask of you now is your forgiveness and hope that we can try to have some kind of relationship." Abraxas stopped, waiting for Hermione to answer.
She reached forward, grabbing his hand. "I would like that. I want to have some sort of relationship with you and the rest of my biological family."Her father gave her a small smile. "Good, we will get together soon then."
She nodded. "That sounds wonderful. I have an appointment today, but I will owl you and we can set something up."
Abraxas gave her one last smile, before disappearing through the Floo, leaving Hermione alone with Lucius Malfoy.
It was awkwardly quiet for a moment, before Hermione turned to her brother, a sigh escaping her lips. "Are you going to say anything?" she inquired, breaking the silence.
"What would you like me to say?" he asked in return, looking up to her, his silver eyes meeting her warm brown ones.
"I don't know, but something would be nice," she replied tersely.
"I am sorry, Miss Granger. All I can think about right now is the fact that I watched you be tortured on my drawing room floor… I did nothing to stop it and now I find out that you are my younger sister?" he sighed, running his hand through his blonde hair. "I don't know what I can say."
Hermione's eyes widened as she heard something in his voice that she had never heard before in a Malfoy: guilt. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she gently touched his shoulder. "If I can put it behind me, so should you, Mr. Malfoy."
"Lucius," He corrected. "I hope we can work over that," he said quietly.
"I believe in time we can and it's Hermione. If you need something to cheer you, think about telling Draco that I am his aunt," Hermione said with a sly smile to her older brother.
Lucius let out a laugh. "Yes, I suppose that would be something to look forward to. If you ever need anything, Hermione, please come to me. I will adjust the wards to always let you in," he said honestly as Hermione made her way to the fireplace.
Hermione stopped to look back at her brother. She smiled. "I will keep that in mind."
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Lightning flashed across the grounds of Malfoy Manor, causing Hermione to open her eyes. Looking out the windows of her room; she watched as a storm raged the grounds.
Her emotions felt like this raging storm, swirling within her chaotically. She was trying to get her emotions in check for the night because the order would be at Malfoy Manor within the hour. The Malfoy family had agreed to aid the Order but only once they had Hermione's permission, recalling the shaky past she has with them.
Hermione looked at her reflection in the mirror. She looked completely different once she had the glamours placed on her removed. Her father removed them from her when she began to live with Lucius. She looked exactly at the rest of the Malfoy family now: long, platinum blonde hair, steel grey eyes, the Malfoy nose. The only difference was the loose curls resting at the ends of her hair. Father had told her she had gotten them from her mother.
Hermione loved her family and would do anything for them, including Severus and Remus.
She grabbed her shirt, slipping it on when there was a quick, but heavy knock on her door.
"Enter," Hermione answered. Severus stepped into her room, closing the door behind him.
"I want to tell you, Albus is here, waiting down stairs." Severus watched her as she buttoned up her shirt. "Why did you agree to help them again?"
"Dumbledore asked me for help. How was I supposed to tell him no?" Hermione looked up to her friend's black eyes.
"Quite easily, you tell him no." Severus told her with a raised brow.
Hermione rolled her eyes at the potions master. "Whatever this new threat is Severus, he needs me specifically. You know how Albus works; he would get me there even if I didn't want to be. He knows I can handle this." She sighed, turning to face him. "I have to be there for him, like he was there for me these past few years," she told him looking into his black eyes. "Also without him, I wouldn't have my family or you. I sort of owe him, Severus."
She could see the internal dispute Severus was having with himself. Taking a few steps forward, she gently placed her hand on the side of his face. "You're debating yourself again Severus, stop it."
Severus smirked at her. "You know me too well."
"I can see through your bull shit." Hermione replied, walking towards the door.
"That mouth of yours is no good," Severus grumbled, following her.
"That's not what you said last night," Hermione called over her shoulder, smirking at his flustered expression.