Lives of Dissonance
Summary: Hermione's parents have a secret to tell her; one that could potentially shake the foundations of her world and change her life forever. And it involves the Zabinis.
A/N: How many "Hermione is a Zabini" stories have you read? Well, I guarantee this is nothing like any of them.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Chapter One - A Surprising Revelation
It was early evening when Hermione heard raised voices coming from downstairs. Her parents were arguing. That was odd – they hardly ever argued with each other, which must mean something was very wrong for them to be yelling like this. Looking up from the textbook she was reading, Hermione glanced at the clock on her nightstand and noted it was almost six o' clock. That meant dinner should have been served shortly, yet somehow she doubted that her parents were arguing over who ought to cook the meal. The exchange seemed too intense, and certainly too unusual for her parents. It both piqued her curiosity and her concern. Normally, she wouldn't pry, and would leave them to their own business, but ever since the events at the end of last year at the Department of Mysteries, she'd been more inclined than usual to worry about things. And not without reason. Her parents may not be involved in the wizarding world, but could this be something Hermione ought to know about?
She almost felt bad about her nosiness. Of course they would tell her if she needed to know. Except... Well, she was old enough by now to decide for herself. Maybe she should check to see if whatever they were yelling over concerned her, and if it didn't, then she could leave them to it and be relieved that it was probably nothing to worry about.
Wanting to find out what was going on, Hermione set her book aside and quietly crept out of her bedroom and downstairs to stand outside the kitchen doorway and listen in. She hovered next to the doorframe just out of sight, hoping both that her parents wouldn't notice her and that whatever the problem was it wouldn't prove to be too serious.
"You say a message has come from Zabini?" her mother was saying to her father, sounding angry. Despite the raised voices, there was also a sense of worry in her tone as if she was hoping to not be overheard. This intrigued Hermione further, although her unease over eavesdropping had yet to abate.
"Yes dear, I'm afraid I've heard from him again," Mr Granger replied in a similarly anxious tone.
"But I thought he was supposed to be dead? This was all supposed to be over years ago. I can't be dealing with that man back in our lives!" Mrs Granger shouted in distress, "What does he want with us now? Have you told anyone else?"
"It's to do with his widow. I'm the only one who knows at the moment, but circumstances have changed. Things are getting dangerous again." Her father's voice sounded worried. Hermione herself was growing increasingly concerned about what could possibly be wrong.
"Dangerous?" her mother shouted back. "We knew there would be danger when we signed up to this, but that's why we promised to keep her safe. Things have changed in the past fifteen years, and I don't want to get caught up in that mess again. There are other things we need to deal with. So what…" she suddenly lowered her voice, but standing so close Hermione was able to hear anyway. "So what does this mean for Hermione? This is going to affect her, but we can't possibly tell her the truth."
What truth? Hermione wondered, feeling both intrigued and apprehensive. Whatever this was about, by now she thought she very much needed to know.
"We'll have to tell her," her father replied. "She's old enough to know the truth now."
"But think about what it could cost us. What if anyone else finds out?" protested her mother, sounding borderline panicked.
"We have no choice," her father responded with a sense of finality.
A few moments passed in silence, and then Hermione heard her mother sigh. "No, you're right," she agreed, sounding resigned.
Sensing this was the opportune moment for her to enter the conversation, Hermione stepped out from where she was hiding behind the door and walked into the room. Perhaps she still felt a little guilty over listening in, but she wasn't a child anymore, and after everything that had happened she thought this sounded like something she deserved to know. She already heard them talking, and now was as good a time as any to find out what about. "Tell me what?" she said demandingly, wanting to know what it was they'd just been discussing that supposedly would affect her.
Her parents both turned to look at her in shock, surprised to see her standing there, and then as they realised that she must have overheard most of the conversation they both simultaneously swallowed, understanding that there was now only one way the conversation could continue. The looks on both their faces were resigned and accepting, each having come to the same conclusion that this wasn't something they could, or should, keep from their daughter. Mrs Granger was first to break the silence. "Hermione, darling. You see, there's something you should know about us," she said, her voice hesitant but still with that motherly tone a parent uses when they try to break bad news to their child gently.
"What?" Hermione prompted, a definite note of apprehension in her voice.
"Well, we're not really…" Her mother trailed off, unable to bring herself to answer, but Hermione pressed her further.
"You're not really what?"
Her mother just looked at her, biting her lip as if she were afraid to answer, but then her father spoke.
"We're not really dentists."
Hermione suddenly turned to look at him, her eyes widening. "What?"
"No," he said with a shake of his head, "You see, Hermione, we work for the British Secret Service."