Chapter 1~ The Darkness Adopting Me
I sat curled up in my favorite chair, deep in the corner of the Gryffindor common room. Like most other days, I was reading one of my many favorite books Hogwarts A History. The fire was crackling and the room was mostly empty. Harry and Ron were finishing up there potion's report on Veritaserum, which I finished days ago, when suddenly Collin Creevey stumbled in with a small piece of parchment in his small hand. He ran over to us, out of breath, and nervously handed me the note.
He then said "Dumbledore gave this to me and told me to give it to you, he said that it was urgent" he then scrambled up the stairs without another word.
I looked down at my boys and they both gave me identical questioning looks, I shrugged my shoulders and started to open the folded piece of parchment. In elegant yet rushed looking script it read 'Hermione, please come to my office immediately, Alone.'
I thought this request was strange but still followed it knowing Dumbledore would never have me do anything that would cause me danger. And so I quickly folded that note and stuck it in my book, and tried to act as nonchalant as possible. I looked down at Ron and Harry's still questioning faces "He wants me to go to his office" I said. I could see that the boys were about to question me so I added "I have no Idea why, but just dont worry about me, ill be back in a few minutes im sure" and with that I left them.
As I sprinted to his office, I could see the sun had just set and the sky was now a deep navy blue, with few twinkling stars in the sky. The wind whipped by me as I run as fast as my little legs would carry me. The second I approached the beautiful statue and spoke of as many different wizarding candies as possible, when finally the statue started to slowly creep up into stairs. I lightly jumped up onto the staircase as it pulled me up and up to a big wooden door with two torches flaming on the side. I approached to the door slowly suddenly unaware of why I was so nervous. I brought my small, slightly shaking fist, to knock three times on the door. I then heard Dumbledore's magical voice say "Come in my dear." I opened the big door, slightly hiding behind it, and the new sight before my eyes astounded me.
I had never seen Dumbledore's office like this. The calm head master sat at his desk certainly not looking as scared as I was. Many comfortable cushiony chairs, in the form of a semicircle facing his desk. Seated in the chairs were many elegant older looking wizards, and from what I knew, were all Death Eaters. I looked up to Dumbledore about to question him when he calmly put a finger up and said " Just sit, Ms. Granger and I will be sure to explain all those questions that I'm sure are rambling around in that brilliant mind of yours."
I walked up to the one empty seat directly in front of Dumbledore. I felt his voice comforting me as soon as he spoke " ah I do believe so introductions are in order" he then got out of his seat and elegantly walked to me and reached his hand out I grasped it and he gently pulled me up onto my feet book still tucked under my other arm. We walked down the line of men to my left to have reached the last man. He was very handsome, with dark mysterious features, deep almost black eyes, and beautiful high cheek bones. Dumbledore released my hand and the man grabbed it a minute later. He slowly brought it up to his lips and gently kissed it. I was extremely shocked to say the least. "Hermione," Dumbledore spoke ", this is Mr. Zabini, Blaise Zabini's father."
then spoke, his deep Italian accented, matching his son's "it's a pleasure to finally meet you" I smiled the most polite smile I could come up with knowing I had just shook a Death Eaters hand. Dumbledore then pushed me along to the line. "This is Mr. Goyle, Gregory Goyle's father." My hand again got kissed gently.
He just nodded this time, as I smiled back. The same thing happened as I formally met Mr. Crabbe, Mr. Flint, Mr. Higgs, and Mr. Pucey. Finally I came to the last two men. One of which was possible one of the most handsome men I have ever laid my eyes on. He had dark butterscotch colored hair, high elegant cheekbones, pale flawless skin, and the most beautiful light blue eyes. I then automatically knew whom he was, Theodore Nott's father.
Theodore Nott was one of the only Slytherin boys that didn't speak a harsh word about how I am a 'filthy Mudblood'. Theodore was MY partner for most projects in our classes, and I deeply respect him, in fact if I must admit I do have quite the crush on him, but honestly how could help it as he looks every bit like his father. When I approached Mr. Nott he looked me up and down slowly a breathtaking smirk on his face all the while, when finally he smiled brightly and said "Ms. Granger it's a pleasure to meet the amazing girl that my son just rants over, that every says has this great mind, even great enough for my son, yes it is definitely my greatest pleasure to meet you." He then grabbed my hand and kissed it letting his lips linger a second longer. As I smiled back about to move on to the last Death Eater, I swear I saw him wink at me but shook it off.
Finally coming to the last man, I got a shiver down my spine seeing that cruel smirk, his whitish pale skin, sharp clean face, brilliantly bright blue eyes, and that long pale blonde hair. There before me was the one and only Lucius Malfoy. One of the few people I loathed more so than his son, but the only reason for that was because he caused his son to be this much of a monster and causing his son to hate and torcher me day after day, demanding his son to follow the man he were most afraid of. But then again so were all the other men in this room, save Dumbledore, and as much as I hate to admit it none of their sons deserves something as bad as that, I can't imagine following every command that is given by the man that scares that living day lights out of you, that causing you nightmare months after you have seen him. All those men are changing and deciding their sons futures without their say it in, and all those poor boys can't do a thing about it, but the worst thing is neither can their fathers.
So as I stared in those cold eyes of Lucius I puckered up my most sly sneer. "Finally Ms. Granger, I do believe that you and Mr. Malfoy, Draco Malfoy's father, have meet." Dumbledore then spoke. I simply nodded my head and without letting Lucius say a word I slowly walked back to my seat and sat right in it staring straight forward. Dumbledore then sat back in his chair and folded his hands in front of him and started to speak in a calm yet saddened voice "Now let's get to the of the reason why we are all here tonight." The room seemed to go complete quite, as if I huge deep dark secret was about to be revealed, like after a great man's death and nobody has the courage so say or do anything because there to saddened and shocked. I could now here the strong wind outside, like a wolf howling into the full moon, like how every night brings something different and how we can only take and appreciate every night as it is or else we will only except the same thing and the next will catch us off guard. I looked at the ground. I could feel most every body's eyes now on me.
"Hermione," Dumbledore spoke in the most comforting soft noise I had ever heard. I looked up and saw those bright twinkling blue eyes piercing deep into my soul ", your parents are …dead."