Hermione Filia Bellatrix Black-Lestrange was the name on the letter. Hermione thought to herself "now that is weird, why is my name, our next door neighbours and somebody else's name on the same letter. I'll just go and give it to her maybe she'll know what this is all about. There's got to be a simple explanation." At this point she stuffed the letter in her pocket and grabbed her bag to go to school. Her mum and her partner had already gone to work. Normally Hermione enjoyed school but today she couldn't concentrate apart from the fact it was her 11th birthday not that anyone cared. People used to just tolerate her but after that strange incident they just acted like she was invisible. At lunchtime she went home for her dinner as it was more preferable to the daunting school canteen except today she went to Bella's house. Bella was their next door neighbour and was always nice to her, remembered her birthdays, fixed her injuries and just basically be like a mum to her.
She knocked on the door when she opened the door Bella gave her a huge hug and told her happy birthday. Inside Hermione was glowing. She wished her mum was as nice as Bella. "So what brings you round here today?" she asked smiling at Hermione. "well I got a letter today and it's got a weird address on" Bella sat up straighter. She motioned for her to go on talking. As Hermione took the letter out of her pocket Bella recognise the where the letter was from straight away. "Look Hermione this isn't going to be easy for you but I'm your mum not Jean."
"But… but… what… how?" Hermione's brain was in overload. "When you were born I didn't want to loose you to the darkest wizard of the time so that you could be his heir. I wanted it to be your choice with what you do with your life…so the safest thing was to give you away where I could still see you, watch you grow up even though it agonized me to see you but not to have those memories that only a mum gets. I've being waiting for this day for the past eleven years."
"So why has the letter got you name on as well as mine?" Hermione asked.
"Hermione Granger was a cover name. Your real name is Filia Bellatrix Black-Lestrange." " Oh" was all Hermione could say. "So what about the letter then…?"
"Open it." Hermione opened it her fingers slightly trembling. It read in emerald green ink;
Dear Ms Black-Lestrange, you have being accepted at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please board the train at kings cross on September 1st. You'll find booklists and your ticket enclosed. Please note that first years are not allowed their own broomsticks.
Yours sincerely Professor McGonagall. (Deputy headmistress.)
"So you mean I get to go to a different school to what I am now. you mean I'll fit in and I'll have friends" Hermione couldn't get her words out quick enough. "Hogwarts is really nice don't worry. I went there myself and Professor McGonagall is really nice, she teaches transfiguration." The clock outside chimed two o'clock. "Oh no! I'll never make it back in time to school. I am so dead." Hermione started whimpering. "Hermione come on I'll get you there but you have to trust me." Hermione nodded. She followed Bella to the garden. "Hold on to my right arm and turn around on my word. Are you ready Hermione?" "Ready." Bella turned on the spot with Hermione and disappeared with a pop. They reappeared outside the school.
"Thank you Bella." She shyly gave her a hug. "You can call me mum if you want." She muttered into her shoulder returning the hug. "Let me know if anyone gives you a hard time and I'll sort it out for you. Now go or they'll give you a row." Hermione went off giving her a smile. Inside she was glowing. Finally it felt like somebody cared about and she definitely preferred Bella as a mum than the person she thought had being her mum for the past eleven years. Plus she was going somewhere where she'd fit in.
